Mandić A, Vujkov T, Novaković P, Komazec S
Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Institute of Oncology Sremska Kamenica, Novi Sad, Yugoslavia.
J BUON. 2002 Jan-Mar;7(1):19-23.
Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessel networks to permit sustained tumor growth, is one of the most rapidly growing fields in basic and applied cancer research. Angiogenesis is a prerequisite for tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial cell proliferation, migration and capillary formation are stimulated by angiogenic growth factors. It is now accepted, mainly on the basis of knock-out experiments, that the most potent pro-angiogenic factor is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). VEGF is the prototype of a family of pro-angiogenic peptides, which now comprises several related members. Recent studies in gynecological oncology have shown considerable importance of tumor angiogenesis as independent prognostic factor, or the use of angiogenesis-related factors as possible tumor markers. Immunohistochemical studies have revealed that high microvessel density (MVD) was associated with poor prognosis in carcinomas of the uterine cervix, endometrium, vulva and ovary. Tumor angiogenesis is not a specific process for one type of tumor, and angiogenic growth factors cannot be specific for one type of malignant disease. Immunohistochemical studies also showed importance of angiogenic factors and MVD in other kinds of cancers such as breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, soft-tissue sarcomas etc. The importance of tumor angiogenesis in the natural history of cancer, the possible applications of angiogenesis markers as prognostic factors and the emergence of innovative antitumor treatments based on anti-angiogenic strategies may lead to new goals in oncology.
血管生成是指形成新的血管网络以支持肿瘤持续生长，它是基础和应用癌症研究中发展最为迅速的领域之一。血管生成是肿瘤生长和转移的先决条件。血管生成生长因子可刺激血管内皮细胞增殖、迁移并形成毛细血管。目前，主要基于基因敲除实验，人们公认最有效的促血管生成因子是血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）。VEGF是促血管生成肽家族的原型，该家族目前包含几个相关成员。妇科肿瘤学的最新研究表明，肿瘤血管生成作为独立的预后因素具有相当重要的意义，或者将血管生成相关因子用作可能的肿瘤标志物。免疫组织化学研究显示，高微血管密度（MVD）与子宫颈癌、子宫内膜癌、外阴癌和卵巢癌的不良预后相关。肿瘤血管生成并非某一种肿瘤的特有过程，血管生成生长因子也并非某一种恶性疾病所特有。免疫组织化学研究还表明，血管生成因子和MVD在其他类型的癌症（如乳腺癌、胃肠道癌、软组织肉瘤等）中也具有重要意义。肿瘤血管生成在癌症自然病程中的重要性、血管生成标志物作为预后因素的可能应用以及基于抗血管生成策略的创新抗肿瘤治疗方法的出现，可能会为肿瘤学带来新的目标。
