Targeting the vasculature of visceral tumors: novel insights and treatment perspectives.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from the endothelium of the existing vasculature, describes a crucial process in tumor growth, disease progression, and metastasis. Therefore, the upcoming strategy of inhibiting tumor angiogenesis has generated different treatment modalities, which have been transferred into clinical practice in recent years. Currently, this concept is applied to target the vasculature of different visceral tumors and intensive clinical research has just started. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This review summarizes the modifications of systemic treatment of visceral tumors by targeting the vasculature in the past years. Moreover, novel targets and treatment strategies will be discussed to evaluate future directions. RESULTS: Leading antiangiogenic drugs combined with systemic chemotherapy have been applied with increasing success during the last years. Therefore, the concept of combining vascular targeting agents with established chemotherapeutic regimens has been increasingly adopted into the therapies of different visceral tumors. CONCLUSION: Targeting the vasculature of visceral tumors in combination with established standard tumor therapies includes major clinical potential for future therapy concepts.