Anti-angiogenic drugs mainly act on the nutritional blood vessels of tumors

Anti-angiogenic drugs mainly act on the nutritional blood vessels of tumors. Lung cancer is the malignant tumor with the highest morbidity and mortality in China. In recent years, innovative drugs have been on the market, giving patients with advanced lung cancer hope to survive. Good use of anti-tumor angiogenesis drugs can bring greater survival benefits to patients.

Cancer cells are like soldiers of the enemy. They need a large supply of “grain and grass” when they grow and metastasize. During the growth of tumors, an independent blood supply will be established and many new blood vessels will grow. These blood vessels are their “food passage”. If these blood vessels are cut off, the cancer cells will lose nutrition and may be starved to death.

Neovascularization refers to the process of forming new blood vessels by sprouting from pre-existing capillaries. Various physiological and pathological processes of the human body are involved in angiogenesis, such as embryonic development, menstrual cycle, wound healing, tumors, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic retinopathy.

In the process of angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor play a key regulatory role. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binds to receptors on the surface of vascular endothelial cells, increases vascular permeability, and promotes the migration, proliferation and angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells.

Clinically, more and more patients with advanced lung cancer are treated with anti-angiogenic drugs. Different from traditional chemotherapeutics, anti-angiogenesis drugs are targeted drugs that target the targets of angiogenesis.

1. Anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) or anti-VEGFR (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor) macromolecular monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, ramucirumab, etc. Bevacizumab can bind to VEGF, preventing it from binding to receptors on the surface of endothelial cells. Ramucirumab inhibits tumor angiogenesis by blocking VEGFR outside the cell.

2. Small molecule VEGF receptor (VEGFR) inhibitor: After VEGF binds to its receptor, the receptor regulates cell proliferation and migration through complex signaling pathways in the cell. Some multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) block the formation of tumor blood vessels by inhibiting cell signaling pathways, such as apatinib, nintedanib, and anlotinib.

3. Recombinant human endostatin (endo), by binding to the corresponding receptor, inhibits the migration of vascular endothelial cells to inhibit tumor angiogenesis. It has been recommended as the first-line treatment for advanced lung cancer.

Anti-angiogenesis drugs mainly act on the nutritional blood vessels of tumors. They restrict the growth of cancer cells by cutting off nutrients. They do not directly kill cancer cells. Currently, combination drugs, such as dual-drug chemotherapy combined with platinum drugs, are more effective. This is like fighting a war. Interrupting the enemy’s food supply will cause the enemy’s military to be upset. Only by cooperating with our soldiers can we effectively destroy the enemy.

(source:chinanet, reference only)

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