The Biology of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

The establishment of a vascular supply is required for organ development and differentiation as well as for tissue repair and reproductive functions in the adult1. Neovascularization (angiogenesis) is also implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of disorders. These include: proliferative retinopathies, age-related macular degeneration, tumors, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis1,2. A strong correlation has been noted between density of microvessels in primary breast cancers and their nodal metastases and patient survival3. Similarly, a correlation has been reported between vascularity and invasive behavior in several other tumors4–6.