Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecological malignancy in developed countries and requires a relatively invasive diagnostic evaluation and operative therapy as the primary therapeutic approach. Angiogenesis is one of the main processes needed for cancer growth and spread. The production of angiogenic factors (AFs) appears early in the process of carcinogenesis. The detection of AFs in plasma and tissue and a better understanding of the angiogenic properties of EC may contribute not only to earlier but also more specific diagnosis and consequently tailored and individual therapeutic approaches. AFs and their receptors also have high potential as binding sites for targeted cancer therapy. In this review, we discuss angiogenesis in EC and the characteristics of the AFs that most contribute to angiogenesis in EC. We also highlight therapeutic strategies that target angiogenesis as potential EC therapy.
Highlights
Angiogenic Factors in EndometrialEndometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecological malignancy in the developed world, and its incidence strongly depends on several risk factors [1]
Hypoxia is an important controller of the angiogenic switch that is mainly regulated by hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a transcription factor that activates the transcription of a set of key genes involved in cell survival under hypoxic conditions, e.g., those involved in initiating angiogenesis [22]
Angiogenesis represents an important step in the pathogenesis of EC development, progression, and metastases and an opportunity for better diagnostic and tailored therapeutic approaches
Summary
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent gynecological malignancy in the developed world, and its incidence strongly depends on several risk factors [1]. Once endometrial cells become malignant, they obtain the ability of uncontrolled fast growth, which requires a good supply of oxygen and nutrients. Such supply via diffusion is extremely limited and can only support tumors smaller than 1–2 mm in diameter [4]. EC cells must start to produce angiogenic factors (AFs), i.e., special cytokines, which are secreted into the surrounding tissue and nearby vessels, causing angiogenesis and the delivery of nutrients to the cancerous cells. AFs and their receptors are potential binding sites for targeted cancer therapy and may contribute to more tailored therapeutic approaches to EC.
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