Eliza Gryboś, Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher and David Aebisher
Medical College of the University of Rzeszów, Poland

Part of the book: The Biochemical Guide to Proteins

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a formation of new blood vessels, angiogenesis – i.e., the creation of branches from already existing vessels. The endothelial growth factor also plays a very important role in the process of wound healing, the course of pregnancy in the construction of the placenta and in the menstrual cycle in women – in the regeneration of the endometrium. In other words, VEGF is necessary for the growth and survival of the vascular endothelium. Its increased activity is observed in conditions such as cancer, diabetic retinopathy, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and in bronchitis and the clinical course of asthma. As shown by many studies, VEGF plays an important role in the progression of neoplastic diseases, but it is a poor prognostic factor. It is responsible for the development and activation of metastasis formation of many types of solid tumors. The conducted studies allow to conclude that the reduction of VEGF secretion is important in inhibiting the angiogenesis process. Therefore, the introduction of anti-angiogenic therapy in the treatment of neoplastic diseases gives very promising results.

Keywords: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), bronchitis, anti-angiogenic, pro-angiogenic, neoplastic diseases

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