TY - JOUR
T1 - Inhibiting the VEGF-VEGFR pathway in angiosarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, and hemangiopericytoma/solitary fibrous tumor
AU - Park, Min S.
AU - Ravi, Vinod
AU - Araujo, Dejka M.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2010/7
Y1 - 2010/7
N2 - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review highlights the current body of knowledge regarding the role of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGFR) in angiosarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE), and hemangiopericytoma/solitary fibrous tumor (HPC/SFT). Therapeutic agents that target this pathway are reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: Several phase II trials in advanced soft tissue sarcoma patients have investigated the efficacy of bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody, as well as sunitinib, sorafenib, and pazopanib, VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Although response rates and progression-free survival periods were generally low, several angiosarcoma, EHE, and HPC/SFT patients demonstrated response or durable disease stabilization on these therapies. Biological mechanisms underlying the activity of these agents in angiosarcoma, EHE, and HPC/SFT are poorly understood. Some angiosarcoma tumors, however, harbor specific activating mutations in VEGFR2, which may be effectively targeted by VEGFR TKIs. SUMMARY: Inhibition of the VEGF/VEGFR pathway may be a rational and effective therapy for certain patients with angiosarcoma, EHE, and HPC/SFT, but more studies are needed to confirm these findings and to identify which patients will benefit from these agents.
AB - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review highlights the current body of knowledge regarding the role of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (VEGFR) in angiosarcoma, epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE), and hemangiopericytoma/solitary fibrous tumor (HPC/SFT). Therapeutic agents that target this pathway are reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: Several phase II trials in advanced soft tissue sarcoma patients have investigated the efficacy of bevacizumab, an anti-VEGF antibody, as well as sunitinib, sorafenib, and pazopanib, VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Although response rates and progression-free survival periods were generally low, several angiosarcoma, EHE, and HPC/SFT patients demonstrated response or durable disease stabilization on these therapies. Biological mechanisms underlying the activity of these agents in angiosarcoma, EHE, and HPC/SFT are poorly understood. Some angiosarcoma tumors, however, harbor specific activating mutations in VEGFR2, which may be effectively targeted by VEGFR TKIs. SUMMARY: Inhibition of the VEGF/VEGFR pathway may be a rational and effective therapy for certain patients with angiosarcoma, EHE, and HPC/SFT, but more studies are needed to confirm these findings and to identify which patients will benefit from these agents.
KW - angiosarcoma
KW - epithelioid hemangioendothelioma
KW - hemangiopericytoma/solitary fibrous tumor
KW - vascular endothelial growth factorvascular endothelial growth factorreceptor
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U2 - 10.1097/CCO.0b013e32833aaad4
DO - 10.1097/CCO.0b013e32833aaad4
M3 - Review article
C2 - 20485168
AN - SCOPUS:77953915105
SN - 1040-8746
VL - 22
SP - 351
EP - 355
JO - Current opinion in oncology
JF - Current opinion in oncology
IS - 4
ER -