Abstract
Cancer cells, by releasing pro-angiogenic factors, stimulate the growth of the thick capillary net necessary for the nourishment of the tumor mass. The battle to defeat cancer uses today different approaches based on the inhibition of pathological angiogenesis: several compounds, either synthetic or biotech, aimed at this complex process, are under development. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered the main target for an anti-cancer therapy based on angiogenesis inhibition; the goal is to block the interaction between this cytokine and its receptors in order to stop the intracellular signaling pathways leading to endothelium remodeling. FDA recently approved two drugs specifically aimed at VEGF, bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, and pegaptinib, a pegylated aptamer with application in ophthalmic pathologies. These two approvals validate anti-VEGF therapy for clinical use, and show how biotech companies are investing on angiogenesis using different approaches, i.e. exploiting protein drugs and oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Monoclonal antibodies, as well as other high molecular weight products like cytokine-traps, aptamers and short interfering RNA (siRNA), are designed to target VEGF and its receptors. Their design, production and clinical advancement in cancer and other pathological conditions linked to angiogenesis will be specifically addressed in this review.
Keywords: Angiogenesis, VEGF, MAbs, Aptamers, VEGF-Trap, bevacizumab, ranibizumab, pegaptinib
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
Title: From Proteins to Nucleic Acid-Based Drugs: The Role of Biotech in Anti-VEGF Therapy
Volume: 6 Issue: 4
Author(s): Barbara Gatto and Marco Cavalli
Affiliation:
Keywords: Angiogenesis, VEGF, MAbs, Aptamers, VEGF-Trap, bevacizumab, ranibizumab, pegaptinib
Abstract: Cancer cells, by releasing pro-angiogenic factors, stimulate the growth of the thick capillary net necessary for the nourishment of the tumor mass. The battle to defeat cancer uses today different approaches based on the inhibition of pathological angiogenesis: several compounds, either synthetic or biotech, aimed at this complex process, are under development. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is considered the main target for an anti-cancer therapy based on angiogenesis inhibition; the goal is to block the interaction between this cytokine and its receptors in order to stop the intracellular signaling pathways leading to endothelium remodeling. FDA recently approved two drugs specifically aimed at VEGF, bevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody, and pegaptinib, a pegylated aptamer with application in ophthalmic pathologies. These two approvals validate anti-VEGF therapy for clinical use, and show how biotech companies are investing on angiogenesis using different approaches, i.e. exploiting protein drugs and oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Monoclonal antibodies, as well as other high molecular weight products like cytokine-traps, aptamers and short interfering RNA (siRNA), are designed to target VEGF and its receptors. Their design, production and clinical advancement in cancer and other pathological conditions linked to angiogenesis will be specifically addressed in this review.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Gatto Barbara and Cavalli Marco, From Proteins to Nucleic Acid-Based Drugs: The Role of Biotech in Anti-VEGF Therapy, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2006; 6 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152006777698178
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187152006777698178 |
Print ISSN 1871-5206 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5992 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Induction of cell death in cancer cells by modulating telomerase activity using small molecule drugs
Telomeres are distinctive but short stretches present at the corners of chromosomes and aid in stabilizing chromosomal makeup. Resynthesis of telomeres supported by the activity of reverse transcriptase ribonucleoprotein complex telomerase. There is no any telomerase activity in human somatic cells, but the stem cells and germ cells undergone telomerase ...read more
Role of natural compounds as anti anti-cancer agents
Cancer is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy remains an important approach in treatment o f several types of cancers, even though ...read more
Signaling and enzymatic modulators in cancer treatment
Cancer accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in 2022 and is considered the leading cause of worldwide mortality. Cancer outcome can be improved through an appropriate screening and early detection and through an efficient clinical treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are the most important approach for the treatment of several ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Microvascular Diseases: Is A New Era Coming?
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Apoptosis-related BCL2-family Members: Key Players in Chemotherapy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Genetics and Mitochondrial Abnormalities in Autism Spectrum Disorders:A Review
Current Genomics IL-6 Signaling and its Blockade with a Humanized Anti-Interleukin-6 Receptor Antibody in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Advent of a New and Innovative Therapeutic Drug, Tocilizumab
Current Rheumatology Reviews Sequential Comorbidity of Anxiety and Depression in Youth: Present Knowledge and Future Directions
Current Psychiatry Reviews TRPV1 Function in Health and Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Mononuclear Phagocyte Interactions:Emerging Avenues of Biomarker Discovery, Modes of Viral Persistence and Disease Pathogenesis
Current HIV Research Evaluating Intestinal Permeability by Measuring Plasma Endotoxin and Diamine Oxidase in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated with High-dose Methotrexate
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Interception of Cocaine by Enzyme or Antibody Delivered with Viral Gene Transfer: A Novel Strategy for Preventing Relapse in Recovering Drug Users
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Functional Link Between Adenosine and Insulin: A Hypothesis for Fetoplacental Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Gestational Diabetes
Current Vascular Pharmacology Recent Advances Using Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) Inhibitors to Treat Inflammatory Disorders: Animal and Clinical Studies
Current Drug Therapy Pharmacogenomics of Human Multidrug Resistance Associated Proteins
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Myeloperoxidase as a Target for the Treatment of Inflammatory Syndromes: Mechanisms and Structure Activity Relationships of Inhibitors
Current Medicinal Chemistry Arsenic Immunotoxicity and Immunomodulation by Phytochemicals: Potential Relations to Develop Chemopreventive Approaches
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Assessment of Acute Coronary Syndromes: Focus on Novel Biomarkers
Current Medicinal Chemistry New Progress in Azole Compounds as Antimicrobial Agents
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Resistance to HIV-1 Entry Inhibitors
Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders Immune Checkpoint Regulators: A New Era Toward Promising Cancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets The bHLH Protein Nulp1 is Essential for Femur Development Via Acting as a Cofactor in Wnt Signaling in Drosophila
Current Molecular Medicine Viral Proteases as Targets for Drug Design
Current Pharmaceutical Design