Definition : angiogenesis is defined as the growth of new blood vessels.
Angiogenesis, Cancer, and tumor
growth
Tumors require oxygenation, nutrition and a route for
dissemination. This necessitates the development of new vessels or angiogenesis.
High levels of new vessel development are indicators of poor prognosis in
cancer; they also provide new avenues of anti-tumor therapy. Angiogenesis in
cancer produces structurally different vessels from angiogenesis in wound
healing and inflammation. The importance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
as a regulator of normal and tumor blood vessel growth has been increasingly
characterized over the past two decades. VEGF increases vascular permeability
and has a well established role in stimulating angiogenesis, a prerequisite of
tumor growth. Numerous compounds have been developed to counteract the angiogenic effects of VEGF.
Supplements that influence
angiogenesis
There are several nutrients and herbs that influence angiogenesis in
laboratory studies, whether these supplements would do the same when ingested
orally by humans is not yet known, and how they interact clinically in terms of
tumor shrinkage or growth is not clear at this time.
Ashwagandha is an
Ayurvedic herb with antioxidant properties, you can see some research on
angiogenesis on the web page provided as the link.
Bilberry anthocyanidins
Inhibitory actions of bilberry anthocyanidins on angiogenesis.
Phytother Res. 2010. Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Molecular Pharmacology, Gifu
Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
The aim of this study was to examine the antiangiogenic properties and
antioxidant activities of the main anthocyanidins (delphinidin, cyanidin and
malvidin) found as constituents in Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry)
anthocyanosides (VMA) and of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Each of these
anthocyanidins concentration-dependently inhibited vascular endothelial growth
factor (VEGF)-induced tube formation in a co-culture of human umbilical vein
endothelial cells (HUVECs) and fibroblasts.
Cinnamon herb
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2015 Jan 3. Water extract of Cinnamomum
cassia suppresses angiogenesis through inhibition of VEGF receptor 2
phosphorylation. Angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation, has
been a major target for cancer therapy. Antiangiogenic herbal medicines are
useful in the treatment of cancer. In this study, we found that a water extract
of Cinnamomum cassia (CCWE) was a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. In cultured
human umbilical vein endothelial cells, CCWE suppressed vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF)-induced proliferation, migration, invasion, tube formation,
and intracellular signaling events such as phosphorylation of ERK, p38 and
VEGFR2, and activation of matrix metalloproteinase. Furthermore, CCWE inhibited
VEGF-induced vessel sprouting of rat aorta ex vivo. These findings might be of
particular interest for drug development because VEGF signaling is a potential
target for treatment of angiogenesis-associated diseases.
Alpha lipoic acid plays an important role.
Genistein found in soy
is available as a supplement'
Modified citrus
pectin is of benefit
Reishi mushroom is popular
in the Orient'
Resveratrol is found
in grapes and wine
Silymarin found in milk
thistle, and herb mostly known for liver protective effects;
Uncaria promotes
angiogenesis
Angiogenesis in the brain
Angiogenesis is a crucial force for shaping
the nervous system and protecting it from disease. Recent advances have improved
our understanding of how the brain and other tissues grow new blood vessels
under normal and pathological conditions. Angiogenesis factors, especially
vascular endothelial growth factor, are now known to have roles in the birth of
new neurons (neurogenesis), the prevention or mitigation of neuronal injury (neuroprotection),
and the pathogenesis of stroke, Alzheimer's disease and motor neuron disease.
Alcohol, angiogenesis, and breast
cancer
Moderate alcohol consumption stimulates the growth and progression of
breast cancer by fueling the development of new blood vessels -- a process
called angiogenesis. Alcohol increases angiogenesis by boosting expression of a
key growth factor known as vascular endothelial growth factor or VEGF. Drinking
alcohol -- even moderate amounts - is a well-established risk factor for breast
cancer in women. A recent study found that 60 percent of breast cancer cases in
women worldwide were attributable to alcohol consumption.
Angiogenesis inhibitor -
inhibition
Inhibiting angiogenesis is a promising strategy for treatment of cancer and
several other disorders, including age-related macular degeneration. Major
progress towards a treatment has been achieved over the past few years, and the
first anti angiogenic agents have been recently approved for use in several
countries. Therapeutic angiogenesis (promoting new vessel growth to treat
ischemic disorders) is an exciting frontier of cardiovascular medicine.
Copper mineral role
The formation of new blood vessels is the initial step in progressive
tumor development and metastasis. The first stage in tumor angiogenesis is the
activation of endothelial cells.
Copper ions stimulate
proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. Serum copper concentration
increases as the cancer disease progresses and correlates with tumor incidence
and burden. Copper ions also activate several proangiogenic factors, e.g.,
vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, tumor
necrosis factor alpha and interleukin. Whether attempts to reduce copper levels
in a tumor microenvironment will alter cancer progression has not been fully
evaluated.
Angiogenin
In addition to its well-known role in mediating
angiogenesis, human angiogenin
also directly stimulates prostate cancer cell proliferation.
Dr. Judah Folkman founder of
angiogenesis cancer theory
Dr. Judah Folkman, a cancer researcher who discovered that tumor growth depends
on the generation of a network of blood vessels that provide nourishment, a
process called angiogenesis, died at the age of 74 in 2008.
He started an entire branch of cancer research called anti
angiogenesis therapy. He believed that if the growth of blood vessels feeding
the tumor could be stopped, the tumor would wither and die. This lead to the
development of medications such as Avastin (Genentech) Avastin and other
targeted cancer treatments.