Surgery and (anti) angiogenesis

Abstract

Anti-angiogenic agents are promising new drugs in the fight against cancer. They might improve anti-tumor efficacy of current treatment in patients with (disseminated) colorectal cancer. To understand the interactions of anti-angiogenic agents and surgery, we have studied the effects of surgery on angiogenesis in tumor growth and during wound healing. We found that (1) anti-angiogenic treatment can affect physiological angiogenesis (colonic anastomoses), (2) Wound healing in mice lacking TAFI ( a matrix protein with sofar unknown mechanism) is disturbed, (3) A routinely performed surgical maneuver (clamping of the liver's vessels) induces tumor growth and worsens prognosis, (4) Anti-angiogenic therapy combined with chemotherapy is very effective, and even more than the sum of either therapy alone, and (5) endostatin inhibits adhesion of tumor cells in a very early phase of metastases.