New biomarker helps identify cancer chemotherapy timing
New York April 9 (IANS) In ray of hope for doctors to identify the tumour normalising period for effective timing of anti-cancer drug treatment a team of researchers have discovered a new biomarker that can visualise the activity of blood vessels.
Angiogenesis the formation of new blood vessels is essential for tumour growth.
The team from Osaka University in Japan in a paper reported in The American Journal of Pathology described a vascular stabilization biomarker that can visualize blood vessel activity thus optimising the timing of anticancer therapies including anti-angiogenics.
Combination therapy using angiogenesis inhibitors and anticancer drugs can improve drug delivery into tumour tissues and prolong progression-free survival.
"Vascular normalisation by angiogenesis inhibitors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling inhibitors is a promising method for improvement of chemotherapy.
"However it is unclear how we can recognise the window of opportunity for the tumour vascular normalising period for effective timing of anti-cancer drug treatment. Therefore biomarkers delineating this window are essential " explained Nobuyuki Takakura Professor at Research Institute for Microbial Diseases Osaka University.
Angiogenesis therapy is clinically used to suppress tumour growth.
Adding an anti-angiogenic drug can boost an anticancer drug s effectiveness.
Basic research indicates that anti-angiogenic therapy allows the blood vessels to return to quiescence and "normalise" so that the anti-cancer drug can penetrate the tumour more effectively.
--IANS
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