Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) ligands and angiogenesis.

The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)- gamma ligands have been initially described as important regulators of adipogenic differentiation and glucose homeostasis. Detailed studies in different tissues pointed to the roles of these ligands in cell proliferation and cancer, establishing their anticancer properties against a wide variety of neoplastic cells. The growth of any solid tumor depends on angiogenesis, as tumor vascularization is a vital process for tumor volume increase and its metastatic potential. Recently, the role of PPAR- gamma ligands as potent angiogenesis modulators in vitro and in vivo, has been referred. This review takes into consideration the latest data concerning the participation of PPAR- gamma ligands in the biological mechanisms underlying angiogenesis inhibition (important in anticancer therapy) and the controversy concerning angiogenesis induction (important in non-neoplastic diseases). As inhibition of angiogenesis represents one of the more promising, new approaches to anticancer therapy, PPAR- gamma ligands in addition to their established role as tumor cell cycle modulators could be implicated in future strategies for cancer treatment.