• Submit to IJMS Login Register
• MDPI
• Journals A-Z
• For Authors
• For Editors
• About
• Open Access Policy

• Abstract
• Full-Text PDF [261 KB]
• Full-Text XML
• Article Versions Notes

• Article Statistics
• PubMed/Medline
• Google Scholar
• Order Reprints

• Cite this article
• Export to BibTeX
• Export to EndNote

• [+] on DOAJ
• Pircher, A
• Hilbe, W
• Heidegger, I
• Drevs, J
• Tichelli, A
• Medinger, M
• [+] on Google Scholar
• Pircher, A
• Hilbe, W
• Heidegger, I
• Drevs, J
• Tichelli, A
• Medinger, M
• [+] on PubMed
• Pircher, A
• Hilbe, W
• Heidegger, I
• Drevs, J
• Tichelli, A
• Medinger, M

•  CiteULike
•  Facebook
•  Mendeley
•  Twitter

This article is

• freely available
• re-usable

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2011, 12(10), 7077-7099; doi:10.3390/ijms12107077

Review

Biomarkers in Tumor Angiogenesis and Anti-Angiogenic Therapy

Andreas Pircher ¹ , Wolfgang Hilbe ¹ , Isabel Heidegger ² , Joachim Drevs ³ , André Tichelli ⁴  and Michael Medinger ^4,*

¹ Hematology and Oncology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria ² Department of Urology and Division of Experimental Urology, Innsbruck Medical University, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria ³ Tumor Center Unisantus, Custodisstrasse 3-17, 50679 Köln, Germany ⁴ Hematology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received: 15 August 2011 / Accepted: 9 October 2011 / Published: 21 October 2011

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomarkers 2011)

Download PDF Full-Text [261 KB, Updated Version, uploaded 24 October 2011 12:25 CEST]

The original version is still available [261 KB, uploaded 21 October 2011 11:27 CEST]

Abstract: Tumor angiogenesis has been identified to play a critical role in tumor growth and tumor progression, and is regulated by a balance of angiogenic and anti-angiogenic cytokines. Among them VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and its signaling through its receptors are of crucial relevance. Inhibition of VEGF signaling by monoclonal antibodies or small molecules (kinase inhibitors) has already been successfully established for the treatment of different cancer entities and multiple new drugs are being tested in clinical trials. However not all patients are likely to respond to these therapies, but to date there are no reliable biomarkers available to predict therapy response. Many studies integrated biomarker programs in their study protocols, thus several potential biomarkers have been identified which are currently under clinical investigation in prospective randomized studies. This review intends to give an overview of the described potential biomarkers as well as different imaging techniques such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging that can indicate benefit, resistance and toxicity to anti-angiogenic therapies.

Keywords: angiogenesis; biomarkers; imaging techniques; vascular endothelial growth factor

Article Statistics

Cite This Article