Angiogenesis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Tumour angiogenesis has recently attracted a great deal of attention as a critical part of oncogenesis and a necessary prerequisite for a malignant phenotype. Research into this process not only offers new insights into tumour biology but is also leading to the development of realistic novel and minimally toxic anti-tumour therapies. Various pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic cytokines and pathways have been characterized and their interrelationships are becoming increasingly complex as new findings are made. This article reviews the current understanding of tumour angiogenesis, the basic mechanisms involved and the more important and investigated pathways and proteins involved.