Our recent efforts have focused on angiogenesis development during the malignant progression of astrocytoma.
Angiogenesis is a process by which new blood vessels can be generated from preexisting ones.
In tumors, this process is usually initiated by the release of angiogenic stimulators by the tumor cells, or decrease of the production of angiogenesis inhibitors. The change in the balance of the production of these two antagonistic types of molecules initiate the angiogenic process. The study of this new protein, and its involvement in astrocytoma development is currently ongoing. We and others have shown that IL-8 is expressed by glioblastoma. Oncogene, in press.