Generic placeholder image

Current Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 0929-8673
ISSN (Online): 1875-533X

New Vascular Disrupting Agents in Upper Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Author(s): A.E. Quatrale, L. Porcelli, A. Gnoni, G. Numico, A. Paradiso and A. Azzariti

Volume 21, Issue 8, 2014

Page: [1039 - 1049] Pages: 11

DOI: 10.2174/09298673113209990233

Price: $65

Abstract

Antivascular approaches aim to cause rapid and catastrophic shutdown in the vascular function of the tumour, leading to extensive tumour cell death. Tumour vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) are a new class of cancer therapies that target the existing vasculature of tumours, taking advantage of the relative instability of tumour vasculature and its supporting structures. Treatment with VDAs induces a rapid collapse and regression of tumour vessels, with a consequent deprivation of blood and oxygen which leads to ischemic or hemorrhagic necrosis of the tumour. In this review, an overview of the most recently developed vascular disrupting agents is reported, focusing on the biological effects exerted by these compounds on endothelial cells and tumour vasculature, potentially effective in the treatment of several malignancies including upper gastrointestinal tumours. In particular, we have focused on the antimitotic agent combretastatin and its numerous synthetic analogues such as combretastatin A-4-phosphate, OXI4503, and AVE8062, and on the colchicine analogue ZD6126.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal cancers, upper gastrointestinal malignancies, vascular disrupting agents.


Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy