Angioprevention
Encyclopedia
Angioprevention is the concept of preventing disease development or progression through the inhibition of angiogenesis
, the process of forming blood vessel
s. The concept of angioprevention has been developed by Adriana Albini and co-workers who showed that several drugs and natural compounds for cancer
chemo-prevention (or chemoprophylaxis
) actually prevent tumor blood vessel
formation. This concept has been furthered through the identification of many other "angiopreventive" compounds.
Neo-angiogenesis
is crucial during tumor growth and progression since it provides oxygen and nutrients to the cancer cells and blood vessels constitute the major route of tumor cell dissemination leading to the formation of metastases. Inhibition of angiogenesis
is expected to have major effects if started early during tumor development before metastatic cells have spread throughout the body. Dietary "angiopreventive" agents such as flavonoid
s or other polyphenol
s might therefore play an important role in cancer chemoprevention and retard or inhibit the growth and progression of cancers.
Angiogenesis
Angiogenesis is the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Though there has been some debate over terminology, vasculogenesis is the term used for spontaneous blood-vessel formation, and intussusception is the term for the formation of new blood...
, the process of forming blood vessel
Blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
s. The concept of angioprevention has been developed by Adriana Albini and co-workers who showed that several drugs and natural compounds for cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
chemo-prevention (or chemoprophylaxis
Chemoprophylaxis
Chemoprophylaxis refers to the administration of a medication for the purpose of preventing disease or infection. Antibiotics, for example, may be administered to patients with disorders of immune system function to prevent bacterial infections...
) actually prevent tumor blood vessel
Blood vessel
The blood vessels are the part of the circulatory system that transports blood throughout the body. There are three major types of blood vessels: the arteries, which carry the blood away from the heart; the capillaries, which enable the actual exchange of water and chemicals between the blood and...
formation. This concept has been furthered through the identification of many other "angiopreventive" compounds.
Neo-angiogenesis
Angiogenesis
Angiogenesis is the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Though there has been some debate over terminology, vasculogenesis is the term used for spontaneous blood-vessel formation, and intussusception is the term for the formation of new blood...
is crucial during tumor growth and progression since it provides oxygen and nutrients to the cancer cells and blood vessels constitute the major route of tumor cell dissemination leading to the formation of metastases. Inhibition of angiogenesis
Angiogenesis
Angiogenesis is the physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels. Though there has been some debate over terminology, vasculogenesis is the term used for spontaneous blood-vessel formation, and intussusception is the term for the formation of new blood...
is expected to have major effects if started early during tumor development before metastatic cells have spread throughout the body. Dietary "angiopreventive" agents such as flavonoid
Flavonoid
Flavonoids , are a class of plant secondary metabolites....
s or other polyphenol
Polyphenol
Polyphenols are a structural class of natural, synthetic, and semisynthetic organic chemicals characterized by the presence of large multiples of phenol structural units...
s might therefore play an important role in cancer chemoprevention and retard or inhibit the growth and progression of cancers.