Angiogenesis inhibitors revised and revived at AACR (original) (raw)

Nature Medicine volume 8, page 427 (2002) Cite this article

There are currently 80 anti-angiogenic agents in clinical trials that have enrolled over 10,000 patients. The first cancer trials of anti-angiogenic agents were met with considerable anticipation, as these drugs had proven highly effective in treating cancer in mice. Dana–Farber and a group of affiliated hospitals began the first clinical study of endostatin in 1999. The first phase of the study was completed two years later, when doctors announced that patients receiving endostatin experienced few side effects and that tumor growth was stabilized.

But anti-angiogenic drugs had already been the topic of fierce public debate. In May 1998, their human potential was hyped in a New York Times article based on data from animal studies, which triggered some researchers to report their difficulties in reproducing experimental results in mice. Skepticism arose in scientific, clinical, pharmaceutical and financial circles, and cancer patients were confused by the conflicting information. Ultimately, the studies revealed that endostatin, as well as other inhibitors such as TNP-470, thalidomide, IM862, Neovastat, Angiozyme, and Combretastatin A4 Pro-drug, did cause tumor shrinkage in a few patients, although most patients experienced only tumor stabilization.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 12 print issues and online access

$259.00 per year

only $21.58 per issue

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Additional access options:

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. San Francisco
    Kristine Novak

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Novak, K. Angiogenesis inhibitors revised and revived at AACR.Nat Med 8, 427 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0502-427

Download citation