Cancer of the colon and rectum is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. Advanced colorectal cancer means that cancer has spread from its site of origin to distant places in the body, often invading vital organs. Despite progress being made in the treatment of this disease, overall long-term survival for this group of patients is suboptimal following standard therapy. Therefore, researchers have been evaluating novel strategies for treatment of advanced colorectal cancer. A new arena of cancer research involves the inhibition of angiogenesis .
Cancer cells require food, oxygen and growth proteins in order to grow and spread.
These essential nutrients are transported to the cancer cells by blood vessels. Angiogenesis is the process of creating new blood vessels necessary to transport food to the cancer cells. Endothelial cells secrete MMPs, which create an opening in existing tissues surrounding the cancer, allowing the endothelial cells to move near the cancer and form new blood vessels to feed the cancer. SU5416 is a novel angiogenesis inhibitor still being evaluated in clinical trials. This halts the growth of new blood vessels necessary to promote cancer cell growth.