VEGF inhibitors and prostate cancer therapy

Curr Mol Pharmacol. 2009 Jun;2(2):161-8. doi: 10.2174/1874467210902020161.

Abstract

Prostate cancer remains the most common non-cutaneous malignancy among American men. Since the advent of PSA testing, most men are diagnosed with localized disease, but a proportion of men will be diagnosed with metastatic disease, many will eventually receive chemotherapy with docetaxel and prednisone. However, responses are not durable and all men will ultimately progress on this treatment. As such, continued efforts are geared towards the discovery of new agents and mechanisms of targeting prostate cancer. Angiogenesis has been shown to play an important role in tumorigenesis, proliferation and metastasis in prostate cancer. Here we discuss the major angiogenic signaling pathway involving VEGF in prostate cancer progression and the role of various promising agents that targets this pathway. This includes bevacizumab, thalidomide and its analogues, tyrosine kinase inhibitors sorafenib and AZD2171, and other inhibitors of angiogenic signaling pathways. Results of key clinical trials associated with the use of these agents and future directions are discussed herein.

Keywords: AZD2171; Angiogenesis; Bevacizumab; Lenalidomide; Prostate Cancer; Sorafenib; Thalidomide.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Benzenesulfonates / therapeutic use
  • Bevacizumab
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Niacinamide / analogs & derivatives
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pyridines / therapeutic use
  • Quinazolines / therapeutic use
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sorafenib
  • Thalidomide / therapeutic use
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzenesulfonates
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Pyridines
  • Quinazolines
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Niacinamide
  • Bevacizumab
  • Thalidomide
  • Sorafenib
  • cediranib