GROWTH-FACTORS IN ANGIOGENESIS - CURRENT INTEREST AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL

Angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel development, is an essen tial component of the body's physiology and contributes to the pathoge nesis of a variety of diseases such as benign and malignant neoplasia and rheumatoid arthritis. Failure of this physiological response is al so important in abnormalities of wound healing in diseases such as duo denal ulceration and diabetes. Angiogenesis is controlled by a variety of factors that initiate, control and terminate this complex, multi-s tage process. This review covers those factors that are exciting much interest currently and have potential for incorporation into clinical medicine.