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Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology
Published in: Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology 6/2013

01-12-2013 | Review Article

The VEGF pathway in lung cancer

Authors: Michalis Alevizakos, Serafim Kaltsas, Konstantinos N. Syrigos

Published in: Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology | Issue 6/2013

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Abstract

Introduction

Lung cancer is a disease whose prognosis has remained poor in the last decades. Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular pathways behind this disease have revealed several mediators of important tumor functions. One of these functions is angiogenesis, which is considered essential for tumor growth and propagation, and a key mediator promoting this process is the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In lung cancer, VEGF plays a significant role in establishing a vascular supply within the tumor. Thus, a new class of drugs has emerged, targeting its pathway, which has offered substantial, albeit small, improvements in patient prognosis.

Areas covered

The VEGF pathway and its role in a multitude of different human cancers are presented at first. We then proceed by analyzing its importance in lung cancer and exploring the therapeutic benefits achieved by its targeting, which set new goals for the future.

Expert opinion

Today, the VEGF pathway remains an attractive target for anticancer treatment, and the way forward requires detection of predictive markers and efforts for a more complete angiogenic blockade.
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Metadata
Title
The VEGF pathway in lung cancer
Authors
Michalis Alevizakos
Serafim Kaltsas
Konstantinos N. Syrigos
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology / Issue 6/2013
Print ISSN: 0344-5704
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0843
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00280-013-2298-3

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