Review
Copyright ©2011 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Oncol. Jun 10, 2011; 2(6): 272-280
Published online Jun 10, 2011. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v2.i6.272
Role of endoglin and VEGF family expression in colorectal cancer prognosis and anti-angiogenic therapies
Sandra F Martins, Rui M Reis, Antonio Mesquita Rodrigues, Fátima Baltazar, Adhemar Longatto Filho
Sandra F Martins, Rui M Reis, Fátima Baltazar, Adhemar Longatto Filho, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Portugal - Campos of Gualtar - 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Sandra F Martins, Antonio Mesquita Rodrigues, Coloproctology Unit – Hospital Braga, Portugal
Rui M Reis, Molecular Oncology Research Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital, CEP 14784-400, Barretos, S. Paulo, Brazil
Adhemar Longatto Filho, Laboratory of Medical Investigation (LIM) 14, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil Author contributions: Martins SF, Reis RM, Baltazar F, Mesquita Rodrigues A, Longatto-Filho A designed the structure of the review; Martins FS and Longatto-Filho A wrote the initial draft of the manuscript; Martins SF, Reis RM, Baltazar F, Mesquita Rodrigues A, Longatto-Filho A wrote the final version of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Professor Adhemar Longatto Filho, Laboratory of Medical Investigation (LIM) 14, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, Brazil. longatto@ecsaude.uminho.pt
Telephone: + 351-969690729 Fax: + 351-253-604847
Received: February 9, 2011
Revised: March 2, 2011
Accepted: April 5, 2011
Published online: June 10, 2011
Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the cancer models and most of the carcinogenic steps are presently well understood. Therefore, successful preventive measures are currently used in medical practice. However, CRC is still an important public health problem as it is the third most common cancer and the fourth most frequent cause of cancer death worldwide. Nowadays, pathologic stage is a unique and well-recognized prognostic indicator, however, more accurate indicators of the biologic behavior of CRC are expected to improve the specificity of medical treatment. Angiogenesis plays an important role in the growth and progression of cancer but its role as a prognostic factor is still controversial. Probably the most important clinical implication of tumor angiogenesis is the development of anti-angiogenic therapy. The goal of this review is to critically evaluate the role of angiogenic markers, assessed by either endoglin-related microvessel density or expression of vascular endothelial growth factor family members in the CRC setting and discuss the role of these angiogenic markers in anti-angiogenic therapies.

Keywords: Angiogenesis; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal cancer treatment; Endoglin; Prognosis; Vascular endothelial growth factor