VEGF Targeting Agents in Ovarian Cancer

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a critical component in the growth and metastasis of cancers and has been recognized as an attractive target for anticancer therapy (Ferrara, 2002). Among the pro-angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is recognized as the predominant mediator of angiogenesis in tumor cells (Ferrara & Kerbel, 2005). As VEGF is overexpressed in most ovarian cancers, the VEGF pathway is a promising target for anti-angiogenic therapy against ovarian cancer (Burger, 2011). Recent increases in our understanding of the molecular pathways that control tumor angiogenesis have led to the development of novel VEGF-targeting agents for the treatment of ovarian cancer (Burger, 2011). In addition to inhibiting neo-vascularization, antiangiogenic agents are also believed to normalize intratumoral blood vessels. Intratumoral vessels are hyperpermeable, leading to interstitial hypertension and impaired perfusion in tumors. Normalization of the tumor vasculature results in a reduction in interstitial pressure and the improved delivery of oxygen, nutrients, and cytotoxic agents (Ferrara, 2002). Many of these agents have been evaluated in clinical trials, and some of them have shown promising clinical activity against ovarian cancer (Burger, 2011). In this article, we review the emerging VEGF-targeting strategies for treating ovarian cancer and provide information about the latest clinical studies of VEGF-targeting agents that have been employed as treatments for ovarian cancer.