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Molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis Volume 3, issue 3, Mai-Juin 1997

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During the past few years, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis has steadily increased. Thus two molecular actors have been identified in 1996 : angiopoietin-1, a ligand for the Tek receptor specific for endothelial cells and endostatin, a new angiogenesis inhibitor. Simultaneously a systemic approach of angiogenesis starts to emerge, which takes into account the interactions between endothelial cells and their neighbours, between endothelial cells and the extra-cellular matrix and the role of plasma proteins. By targeting tumor blood vessels, it has been possible to obtain the regression of solid tumors in mice. The therapeutic perspectives of these findings will be discussed.