Main description:

VEGF and Cancer is a comprehensive and up to date review of current knowledge on the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in cancer.
Key Features:
-Discussion of VEGF as potent angiogenic factor and its role in tumor angiogenesis,
-Review of the biology, molecular properties and regulation of VEGF,
-Discussion of the role of VEGF in a range of different tumor types, both solid tumors and haematological cancers,
-Review of the therapeutic potential of different approaches to block VEGF,
-Review of recent evidence that in addition to its role as an endothelial cell mitogen, VEGF may also be an autocrine growth factor for tumor cells, regulating survival and invasion.

This book is aimed at scientists new to angiogenesis and VEGF biology and provides new information for established researchers and scientists. It will also be a useful text for clinicians interested in anti-angiogenic therapy for treatment of human cancers.

Contents:

1. VEGF and Its Receptors.- Activities of VEGF.- VEGF Isoforms.- Regulation of VEGF Gene Expression.- The VEGF Receptors.- Role of VEGF in Physiological Angiogenesis.- Role of VEGF in Pathologic Conditions.- Therapeutic Implications and Perspectives.- 2. Hypoxic Regulation of VEGF.- Transcriptional Regulation of VEGF.- Post Transcriptional Regulation of VEGF.- Abnormalities in the Hypoxic Regulation of VEGF.- 3. Molecular Mechanisms of VEGF-Induced Angiogenesis.- Angiogenesis.- The Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Angiogenesis.- The VEGF Signal Cascade in Angiogenesis.- 4. Crosstalk between VEGF and Bd-2 in Tumor Progression and Angiogenesis.- Angiogenic Potential of Tumor Cells Overexpressing Bcl-2.- Role of Bcl-2 in VEGF-Promoted Survival of Tumor Cells.- Role of Bcl-2 in Endothelial Cells.- Clinical Relevance of VEGF and Bcl-2 Expression.- 5. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Breast Cancer.- VEGF and Tumor Growth.- Serum VEGF and Breast Cancer.- VEGF and Clinical Consequences.- Future Strategies in Breast Cancer.- 6. VEGF and Tumor Progression in Human Melanoma.- VEGF in Tumor Angiogenesis.- Angiogenesis and Human Melanoma.- VEGF in Human Melanoma.- 7. VEGF in Esophageal Cancer.- VEGF in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus.- VEGF in Barrett's Disease and Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus.- Circulating VEGF Levels in Esophageal Carcinoma.- VEGF and MVD during Neoadjuvant Treatment of Esophageal Carcinoma.- VEGF-C and Lymphangiogenesis in Esophageal Carcinoma.- Anti-VEGF Treatment of Esophageal Carcinoma.- 8. VEGF in Colorectal Cancer.- Colon Cancer.- VEGF in Colorectal Cancer Progression.- Prognostic Value of VEGF in Colorectal Cancer Patients.- The Role of VEGF in Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer.- Anti-Angiogenic Therapy by Interference with the VEGF Pathway in Colorectal Cancer.- 9. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Malignant Disease of the Central Nervous System.- VEGF in the Normal Brain.- VEGF Is Upregulated in Malignant Disease of the CNS.- Angiogenesis in Glioma.- Factors Influencing VEGF Production.- C6 Glioma Is an Excellent Model for the Study of High Grade Human Glioma with Regard to VEGF.- VEGF Is Responsible for the Virulent Nature of High Grade Gliomas.- Interrupting VEGF-Receptor Signaling Inhib its Glioma Growth in Preclinical Models.- Current Therapy of Glioma: VEGF Contributes to Treatment Failure.- 10. VEGF in Hematopoietic Malignancy.- The VEGFNEGF Receptor Pathway.- Hematopoietic and Endothelial Cells Share a Common Hematopoietic/Endothelial Progenitor Cell.- VEGF Bone Marrow Interact ions in Hematological Malignancy.- VEGF and Angiogenesis in Acute Leukemia and Myelodysplasia.- VEGF and Angiogenesis in Myeloproliferative Disorders.- VEGF and Angiogenesis in B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.- VEGF and Angiogenesis in Lymphomas.- VEGF and Angiogenesis in Myeloma.- VEGF Signalling Pathways Asa Therapeutic Target in Hematological Malignancies.- 11. Targeting VEGF in Pancreatic Cancer.- Cancer Metastasis.- Tumor Angiogenesis.- Regulation of Angiogenesis by the Microenvironment.- VEGF/NPF:A Pro-Angiogenic Molecule.- Regulation ofVEGF/NPF Expression in Tumors.- Development of a Human Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Model.- Anti-VEGF Therapy in Pancreatic Cancer.- Anti-Angiogenic Therapy: Clinical Implications.- 12. Effects of Fibrinogen and Associated Peptide Fragments on the Activation ofHuman Endothelial Cells by VEGF in Vitro.- Fibrinogen and Fibrin Formation.- Fibrinolysis.- Effects of Fibrinogen on Endothelial Cell Activation.- Fibrin, VEGF and Angiogenic Mechanisms.- Stimulation of VEGF Induced Angiogenesis by Fibrin E-Fragment.- Fibrinogen E-Fragment Inhibits VEGF Activation of Endothelial Cells.- The Effects of Other Fibrinogen/Fibrin Related Fragment on VEGF-Activation of Endothelial Cells.- 13. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and Its Role in Non-Endothelial Cells: Autocrine Signalling by VEGF.- VEGF in the Cardiovascular System.- VEGF and the Central Nervous System (CNS).- VEGF and Its Role in Bone.- VEGF in Hematopoietic Cells and Hematological Malignancies.- VEGF Signalling in Hematopoietic Cells.- Evidence for VEGF Aurocrine Signalling in Solid Tumors.- Autocrine VEGF Signalling in Breast Cancer.- VEGF Stimulates Breast Cancer Invasion.- VEGF Signalling in Tumor Cells.- Anti-Angiogenic Therapy.- 14. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D: Biology, Functions and Role in Cancer.- Molecular Biology of VEGF-C and VEGF-D.- VEGF-C and VEGF-D Signalling and Function.- VEGF-C and VEGF-D in Human Malignancy.- Potential Therapeutic Roles.