Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/vascular permeability factor (VPF), an endothelial cell (EC)-specific mitogen, stimulates angiogenesis in vivo, particularly in ischemic regions. VEGF/VPF expression by cells of hypoxic tissues coincides with expression of its two receptors, KDR and flt-1, by ECs in the same tissues. We investigated whether hypoxia or hypoxia-dependent conditions operat...

The vascular system is the first functional organ that starts to develop in the embryo. The extraembryonic mesodermal cells, so-called hemangioblasts, aggregate in the yolk sac to form blood islands, where they differentiate into an external endothelial cell (EC) layer and an inner core of blood cells. The external ECs subsequently constitute the primary capillary plexus. Shortly thereafter, th...

Angiogenesis is essential for tumor growth and metastasis and depends on the production of angiogenic factors by host and/or tumor cells. The role of angiogenesis and angiogenic factor expression in intestinal- and diffuse-type gastric cancer are undefined. Archival specimens of 51 intestinal-type and 38 diffuse-type human gastric carcinomas were examined for tumor vessel counts, angiogenic fac...

Pazopanib (Votrient™, GlaxoSmithKline), a multi-kinase inhibitor with activity against VEGFR and other receptors, was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Here, we review the history of its development, together with an overview of VEGF and its receptors and co-receptors. Results from selected clinical trial data in RCC and other malignant disea...

Objective: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) exists in three main splice variants, characterized by 121, 165 and 189 amino acids (VEGF 121, VEGF 165 and VEGF 189) and acts via two specific receptors: VEGF-R1 or Flt-1 and VEGF-R2 or KDR. VEGF plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. This study examined the relationship between VEGF and its isoforms and the sev...

objective(s): progestrone is a prequisite for pre-implantation angiogenesis and induce decidual angiogenesis. it is unknown the effect of progestrone administration on the endometrium of hyperstimulated mice at pre-implantation time. material and methods: adult female nmri mice were divided in three groups [control group, ovarian stimulated group and progestrone treated mice after ovarian stimu...

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are key molecules in numerous cellular processes, the inhibitors of which play an important role in the clinic. Among them are the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members and their receptors (VEGFR), which are essential in the formation of new blood vessels by angiogenesis. Anti-VEGF therapy has already shown promising results in oncology and op...

BACKGROUND Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a potentially life-threatening condition associated with increased vascular permeability. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) system and its receptors have been identified as the main angiogenic factors responsible for increased capillary permeability and are therefore discussed as crucial for the occurrence of OHSS. Recently, a n...

A factor that promotes blood vessel growth keeps two types of brain cells alive, say Maharaj et al. (page 491). Their findings might explain why anticancer drugs that block this factor cause neurological side effects. The drug target in question—vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)— binds to receptors on blood vessel endothelial cells. A localized increase in VEGF, which is produced by und...