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<p>Welcome to the Angiogenesis Foundation's Patient Cancer Center
<p>The Angiogenesis Foundation is educating patients about the role of angiogenesis in cancer and about antiangiogenic medicines that are being developed to control this disease. Our information comes from the Foundation's databases as well as from our network of leading oncologists, cancer researchers, biopharmaceutical companies, governmental resources, and patient advocacy groups.
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<p><a class="nu" href="understanding_angiogenesis.html">Understanding Angiogenesis</a>
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<ul type="square">
<li>Angiogenesis, the growth of blood vessels, is an important natural
process used by the body for reproduction and for healing injured tissues
<p>
<li>Blood vessels bring oxygen and nutrients via the circulation to nourish
all tissues in the body
<p>
<li>The cells comprising blood vessels are called endothelial cells
<p>
<li>The endothelial cells of a blood vessel also produce molecules that
support the growth of tissues
<p>
<li>In females, angiogenesis also occurs each month, in the ovaries and
in the uterus, as part of the reproductive menstrual cycle
<p>
<li>In virtually all other situations, angiogenesis only occurs if there
is disease present
<p>
<li>Cancer cells take over the body's control of angiogenesis in order
to recruit their own private blood supply
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><b><font face="arial, helvetica" size="4" color="black">Angiogenesis in Cancer</font></b><br>
Every cancer begins its existence as a tiny cluster of abnormal tumor
cells growing in an organ. Without its own blood supply to bring in oxygen
and nutrients, the tumor cannot grow larger than 1-2 millimeters in diameter
(about the size of a small pea). While this early stage of tumor growth
can last for month or even years, eventually a few cancer cells gain the
ability to produce proteins known as angiogenic growth factors. These
'growth factors' are released by the tumor into nearby tissues, and they
stimulate new blood vessels to sprout vigorously from existing healthy
blood vessels, into the tumor.
<p>Once new blood vessels enter the tumor:
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