Final answer:
Angiogenesis inhibitors are drugs used in cancer treatment to prevent the formation of new blood vessels by tumors. They work by blocking the signaling pathways that stimulate the growth of new blood vessels. These drugs can starve the tumor of oxygen and nutrients, leading to its shrinkage and potential regression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Angiogenesis inhibitors are drugs used in cancer treatment to prevent the formation of new blood vessels by tumors. Since all tissues, including malignant tumors, need a blood supply to grow and spread, inhibiting angiogenesis can effectively limit tumor growth and progression. These drugs work by blocking the signaling pathways that stimulate the growth of new blood vessels.
For example, a commonly used angiogenesis inhibitor is Bevacizumab, which targets a protein called Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). By binding to VEGF and preventing its interaction with its receptors on blood vessel cells, Bevacizumab inhibits angiogenesis and reduces the blood supply to the tumor. This can starve the tumor of oxygen and nutrients, leading to its shrinkage and potential regression.
Other angiogenesis inhibitors, such as Sorafenib and Sunitinib, target multiple pathways involved in blood vessel formation. These drugs have been approved for the treatment of various cancers, including kidney cancer and liver cancer.