TUMOR ANGIOGENESIS

Abstract

Angiogenesis, or neovascularization, is the formation of new capillaries from preexisting blood vessels. It is a normal mechanism in many physiological events as well as in wound healing. It is known that it is a key for the tumor progression. A tumor begins to produce new vessels when the balance between the angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors changes, and it gains the capacity of growth, invasion and metastasis. The tumor angiogenesis is the subject of research for new anticancer therapy agents because of its relation to tumor progression. The results of these research are quite promising, in this pathobiology centered review, the tumor angiogenesis is summarized with its mechanisms of development and the factors responsible for the angiogenic events