Introduction by the Guest Editors: Bevacizumab

摘要

Much research supports the notion that the development of a neovascular supply or angiogenesis is essential for normal embryonic and adult development, as well as for the progression and metastasis of cancer. In 1939, tumor cells were first hypothesized to release a "blood vessel growth stimulating factor，" which was thought to play a key role in enabling rapid growth in tumor xeno-grafts. In 1971, Judah Folkman proposed that antiangiogenesis may be a novel strategy to inhibit tumor growth. During the next 15 years，several angiogenic proteins were isolated, sequenced, and cloned (e.g., aFGF, bFGF, angiogenin), but their role in the regulation of physiological or pathological angiogenesis remained largely unclear. The isolation and cloning of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 1989 was a major step forward in understanding the mechanisms underlying angiogenesis. This milestone set the foundations for a new field of research into improved treatments, not only for cancer but also for intraocular vascular disorders such as age-related macular degeneration. The crucial role of VEGF in the development of blood vessels was underscored by the finding that loss of a single vegf allele results in defective vascular development and early embryonic lethality in mice. Today, it is widely accepted that VEGF is the key regulator of angiogenesis associated with a variety of pathophysiological processes， including wound healing and tissue repair.