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Clinical trials with angiogenesis
inhibitors
Giaccone G , van Cruijsen H
Department of Medical Oncology, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and metastasis
formation. Many agents have been developed to inhibit this process.
Two major anti-angiogenic strategies have been so far mostly
developed: the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal
antibody bevacizumab and several tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI)
to VEGF receptors.
Bevacizumab is the first specific anti-angiogenic agent registered.
This registration was based on the results of the phase III trial
which compared first-line chemotherapy plus bevacizumab to
chemotherapy alone in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
Treatment with chemotherapy plus bevacizumab resulted in higher
response rates (chemotherapy, 35%, chemotherapy plus bevacizumab,
45%) and longer median survival (chemotherapy, 15.6 months,
chemotherapy plus bevacizumab, 20.3 months).1 [>Read full article in PDF]