Thalidomide targets EGFL6 to inhibit EGFL6/PAX6 axis-driven angiogenesis in small bowel vascular malformation.

Background Small bowel vascular malformation disease (SBVM) is the most common cause of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). Several studies suggested that EGFL6 was able to promote the growth of tumor endothelial cells by forming tumor vessels. To date, it remains unclear how EGFL6 promotes pathological angiogenesis in SBVM and whether EGFL6 is a target of thalidomide.