VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a hypoxia-inducible angio genesis and vascular permeability factor which is expressed in high am ounts in perinecrotic palisading cells in human glioblastomas. In vitr o VEGF gene expression is enhanced approximately ten times by hypoxia. Current evidence suggests, that hypoxia is also the driving force for VEGF gene expression in glioblastoma cells in vivo and represents the most important trigger for tumor angiogenesis and edema. Our approach es to inhibit tumor angiogenesis and edema formation in glioblastoma p atients will concentrate on the disruption of VEGF/VEGF receptor Signa l transduction pathway in vivo.