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ShareAug. 1, 2013 — New blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) stimulates the growth of cancer and other diseases. Anti-angiogenic inhibitors slow down cancer growth by disrupting the blood supply to the tumor. To date, the success of these treatments is limited by resistance, poor efficiency and harmful side effects. In the journal Cell, Peter Carmeliet (VIB-KU Leuven) and his team reported that sugar metabolism (a process that we call glycolysis) also plays an essential role in the formation of new blood vessels. These totally revolutionary insights open up many new therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of cancer and diseases as a result of excessive blood vessel formation.
Every growing cell in our body is provided with oxygen and nutrients via our blood vessels. Blood vessels are formed by endothelial cells which line the inside wall of the vessel. These cells require energy to be able to form new blood vessels. However, it was not known how these cells produced the required energy and it was never considered to inhibit the energy production process in order to block angiogenesis.
Under the guidance of Peter Carmeliet, a team consisting of Katrien De Bock, Maria Georgiadou and Sandra Schoors discovered that glycolysis is the most important mechanism for endothelial cells to supply energy for blood vessel formation. Peter Carmeliet and his team demonstrated that endothelial cells can be paralyzed by blocking glycolysis and consequently stop to form blood vessels. This is the first evidence that starvation of endothelial cells could offer new therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of excessive angiogenesis in diseases (like cancer).
Peter Carmeliet: "Our discovery opens up a whole new domain for inhibition of angiogenesis in various diseases such as cancer. Endothelial cells need nutrients and energy for growth and if you take away their energy, you can prevent them from forming new blood vessels."
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The above story is based on materials provided by VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology).
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
- Katrien De Bock, Maria Georgiadou, Sandra Schoors, Anna Kuchnio, Brian W. Wong, Anna Rita Cantelmo, Annelies Quaegebeur, Bart Ghesquière, Sandra Cauwenberghs, Guy Eelen, Li-Kun Phng, Inge Betz, Bieke Tembuyser, Katleen Brepoels, Jonathan Welti, Ilse Geudens, Inmaculada Segura, Bert Cruys, Franscesco Bifari, Ilaria Decimo, Raquel Blanco, Sabine Wyns, Jeroen Vangindertael, Susana Rocha, Russel T. Collins, Sebastian Munck, Dirk Daelemans, Hiromi Imamura, Roland Devlieger, Mark Rider, Paul P. Van Veldhoven, Frans Schuit, Ramon Bartrons, Johan Hofkens, Peter Fraisl, Sucheta Telang, Ralph J. DeBerardinis, Luc Schoonjans, Stefan Vinckier, Jason Chesney, Holger Gerhardt, Mieke Dewerchin, Peter Carmeliet. Role of PFKFB3-Driven Glycolysis in Vessel Sprouting. Cell, 2013; 154 (3): 651 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.06.037
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
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