Final answer:
The statement is true. Angiogenesis is the process of new blood vessel formation from existing vessels, crucial for tumor growth. Angiogenesis inhibitors are used in cancer treatment to block this process, effectively starving the tumor of needed nutrients and oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term angiogenesis refers to the development of new blood vessels from existing ones, a process essential for the growth of body tissues, including malignant tumors. In cancer treatment, drugs known as angiogenesis inhibitors may be used to block the formation of these new blood vessels. By inhibiting angiogenesis, these drugs essentially starve tumors of the necessary nutrients and oxygen supplied by the blood, thus limiting their growth and potential to spread. Tumors induce angiogenesis by secreting various growth factors, and a known promoter of this process is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Angiogenesis inhibitors work by targeting these growth factors or the signaling pathways they activate, stalling the tumor's development and aiding in the treatment of cancer.