- Email: [email protected]
Angiogenesis
Pancreatology and the Web Pancreatology 2010;10:112–113 DOI: 10.1159/000297465
Published online: May 12, 2010
Angiogenesis Gwen Lomberk Gastroenterology Research Unit, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn., USA
Abstract The rapid growth of cancer cells, such as the case with pancreatic cancer cells, requires new blood vessel growth to sustain tumor viability. In fact, angiogenesis has been found to be closely correlated with rapid tumor growth and a poorer prognosis in pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma frequently has aberrant expression of several key regulators of angiogenesis and invasion. Via paracrine mechanisms, mutual stimulation between tumor cells and endothelial cells triggers tumor angiogenesis. In order for angiogenesis to continue, tumor cells or cells in its surrounding microenvironment must release stimulatory factors, while endothelial cells elicit a response which includes the release of proteolytic enzymes to degrade the extracellular matrix for migration and proliferation. Therefore, to extend our knowledge of the tumor microenvironment from our previous issue on the extracellular matrix, this Pancreatology and the Web article focuses on Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP angiogenesis.
NCI Understanding Cancer Series: Angiogenesis: http://www.cancer. gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/angiogenesis
As part of the National Cancer Institute’s series on ‘Understanding Cancer’, this website provides valuable graphic-rich educational tutorials to be used by life science teachers, medical professionals, as well as to inform the public. Most tutorials, including one on angiogenesis, are available in PDF and PowerPoint formats for ease of downloading. The artwork is copyrighted and distributed free of charge for the purposes of education. In particular, the tutorial on angiogenesis is thorough, providing information about the basics of tumor angiogenesis, as well as normal developmental angiogenesis, signals involved in the activation of angiogenesis, and current drugs targeting angiogenesis.
© 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP 1424–3903/10/0103–0112$26.00/0 Fax +41 61 306 12 34 E-Mail [email protected] www.karger.com
Accessible online at: www.karger.com/pan
Gwen Lomberk, PhD Gastroenterology Research Unit Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Rochester, MN 55905 (USA) E-Mail lomberk.gwen @ mayo.edu
Special Project Angiogenesis: http://www.med.unibs.it/⬃airc/
This project informs the researcher about tools and reagents which, in the scientific community, are related to angiogenesis, and directs the scientist to which laboratory has each reagent. The site also contains links to various meetings and events in the field along with links to useful websites, such as vascular biology societies, relevant biotech companies and other angiogenesis sites. The jewel of this website probably lies within its interactive angiogenesis interactome, providing the user with angiogenesis-related molecules and the interactions between them.
The Angiogenesis Foundation: http://www.angio.org/index.php
The Angiogenesis Foundation sponsors a website dedicated to providing detailed information about angiogenesis and guides the browser to seminal papers in the field. In addition, this website has webcasts from experts in the field, links to CME programs related to the field, and information about their annual conference. As chemotherapy has provided modest improvements on the mean survival of pancreatic cancer patients, targeting angiogenesis, either alone or in combination with existing modalities, offers a promising avenue for serious investigation. Thus, I hope that these websites will serve as a good foundation to provide insight into this field.
Pancreatology and the Web
Pancreatology 2010;10:112–113
113
Published online: May 12, 2010
Angiogenesis Gwen Lomberk Gastroenterology Research Unit, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minn., USA
Abstract The rapid growth of cancer cells, such as the case with pancreatic cancer cells, requires new blood vessel growth to sustain tumor viability. In fact, angiogenesis has been found to be closely correlated with rapid tumor growth and a poorer prognosis in pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic adenocarcinoma frequently has aberrant expression of several key regulators of angiogenesis and invasion. Via paracrine mechanisms, mutual stimulation between tumor cells and endothelial cells triggers tumor angiogenesis. In order for angiogenesis to continue, tumor cells or cells in its surrounding microenvironment must release stimulatory factors, while endothelial cells elicit a response which includes the release of proteolytic enzymes to degrade the extracellular matrix for migration and proliferation. Therefore, to extend our knowledge of the tumor microenvironment from our previous issue on the extracellular matrix, this Pancreatology and the Web article focuses on Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP angiogenesis.
NCI Understanding Cancer Series: Angiogenesis: http://www.cancer. gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/angiogenesis
As part of the National Cancer Institute’s series on ‘Understanding Cancer’, this website provides valuable graphic-rich educational tutorials to be used by life science teachers, medical professionals, as well as to inform the public. Most tutorials, including one on angiogenesis, are available in PDF and PowerPoint formats for ease of downloading. The artwork is copyrighted and distributed free of charge for the purposes of education. In particular, the tutorial on angiogenesis is thorough, providing information about the basics of tumor angiogenesis, as well as normal developmental angiogenesis, signals involved in the activation of angiogenesis, and current drugs targeting angiogenesis.
© 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP 1424–3903/10/0103–0112$26.00/0 Fax +41 61 306 12 34 E-Mail [email protected] www.karger.com
Accessible online at: www.karger.com/pan
Gwen Lomberk, PhD Gastroenterology Research Unit Mayo Clinic College of Medicine Rochester, MN 55905 (USA) E-Mail lomberk.gwen @ mayo.edu
Special Project Angiogenesis: http://www.med.unibs.it/⬃airc/
This project informs the researcher about tools and reagents which, in the scientific community, are related to angiogenesis, and directs the scientist to which laboratory has each reagent. The site also contains links to various meetings and events in the field along with links to useful websites, such as vascular biology societies, relevant biotech companies and other angiogenesis sites. The jewel of this website probably lies within its interactive angiogenesis interactome, providing the user with angiogenesis-related molecules and the interactions between them.
The Angiogenesis Foundation: http://www.angio.org/index.php
The Angiogenesis Foundation sponsors a website dedicated to providing detailed information about angiogenesis and guides the browser to seminal papers in the field. In addition, this website has webcasts from experts in the field, links to CME programs related to the field, and information about their annual conference. As chemotherapy has provided modest improvements on the mean survival of pancreatic cancer patients, targeting angiogenesis, either alone or in combination with existing modalities, offers a promising avenue for serious investigation. Thus, I hope that these websites will serve as a good foundation to provide insight into this field.
Pancreatology and the Web
Pancreatology 2010;10:112–113
113