Abstract
Angiogenesis is regulated, under both physiological and pathological conditions, by numerous “non-classic” pro-angiogenic factors, including fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and placental growth factor (PlGF), and “non-classic” pro-angiogenic factors, including granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and erythropoietin (EPO). In the context of the most important discoveries in this field, this review article summarizes the important role played by the Italian scientists in the course of the last twenty years.
Highlights
In 1945, Algire and Chalkley were the first to appreciate that growing malignant tumors could continuously elict new capillary growth from the host [ 1]
Several other low molecular weight angiogenic factors were isolated from the Walker 256 carcinoma, capable to induce an angiogenic response in vivo when tested on rabbit cornea or chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), and in vitro on cultured endothelial cells [ 2]
In 1980s, Shing at the Children’s Hospital in Boston discovered a tumor-derived factor very similar to the agent discovered by Gospodarowicz, able to bound with such a high affinity to heparin, with a molecular weight of 14,800, which stimulated the proliferation of capillary endothelial cells in vitro, and angiogenesis in vivo in the chick CAM assay [ 7, 8]
Summary
In 1945, Algire and Chalkley were the first to appreciate that growing malignant tumors could continuously elict new capillary growth from the host [ 1]. Starting from the discovery of TAF, other pro-angiogenic molecules have been isolated, namely basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)/fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/vascular permeability factor (VPF), and placental growth factor (PlGF).
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