Bach F, Uddin F J, Burke D
Department of Academic Surgery, Room B40, Clarendon Wing, Leeds General Infirmary, Great George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 3EX, UK.
Eur J Surg Oncol. 2007 Feb;33(1):7-15. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2006.07.015. Epub 2006 Sep 7.
Tumour growth is dependant upon the development of an adequate blood supply. This, in turn, is thought to depend upon a switch by the tumour, from a dormant to angiogenic state. Recent data suggest that this switch may occur when the balance of pro- and anti-angiogenic agents alters to promote angiogenesis. Angiopoietins may be involved in this balance.
An electronic literature search was performed with respect to angiopoietins from 1996 to the present. Published data from in-vitro and in-vivo studies were critically analysed. A specific focus was made of studies relating to tumour growth and vasculature.
Since angiopoietin-1 was first described in 1996, three more angiopoietins have been described. All family members bind to the Tie-2 receptor. There is now a considerable accumulation of data that suggests they play a pivotal role in the development and stabilisation of tumour vasculature. angiopoietin-2 appears to be pro-angiogenic whilst angiopoietin-1 appears to be a stabilising factor.
Recent trials of anti-angiogenic agents show promise in the treatment of solid human cancers. The angiopoietins are a new family of proteins that appear to be influential in the development of the tumour vasculature. Manipulation of the angiopoietin balance may provide a potential therapeutic target in human cancer.
肿瘤生长依赖于充足血液供应的形成。而这又被认为取决于肿瘤从休眠状态向血管生成状态的转变。最近的数据表明，当促血管生成因子和抗血管生成因子的平衡发生改变以促进血管生成时，这种转变可能会发生。血管生成素可能参与了这种平衡。
对1996年至今有关血管生成素的文献进行了电子检索。对已发表的体外和体内研究数据进行了严格分析。特别关注了与肿瘤生长和脉管系统相关的研究。
自1996年血管生成素-1首次被描述以来，又发现了另外三种血管生成素。所有家族成员均与Tie-2受体结合。现在有大量数据表明它们在肿瘤脉管系统的发育和稳定中起关键作用。血管生成素-2似乎具有促血管生成作用，而血管生成素-1似乎是一种稳定因子。
最近的抗血管生成药物试验在治疗实体人类癌症方面显示出前景。血管生成素是一类新的蛋白质家族，似乎在肿瘤脉管系统的发育中具有重要影响。调节血管生成素平衡可能为人类癌症提供一个潜在的治疗靶点。
