Cancer Cells

Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis (angio'gen'esis) is the growth of new blood vessels - an important natural process occurring in the body. Angiogenesis occurs in the healthy body for healing wounds and for restoring blood flow to tissues after injury. In females, angiogenesis also occurs during the monthly reproductive cycle and during pregnancy. The healthy body controls angiogenesis through a series of "on" and "off" switches:

• The main "on" switches are known as angiogenesis-stimulating growth factors
• The main "off switches" are known as angiogenesis inhibitors

In many serious disease states, the body loses control over angiogenesis. In the case of cancer, excessive angiogenesis occurs when diseased cells produce abnormal amounts of angiogenic growth factors, overwhelming the effects of natural angiogenesis inhibitors. The new vessels allow tumors to grow and cells to escape into the circulation and lodge in other organs (tumor metastases).

Research by Angiogen shows that Angiostatin4.5, a naturally occurring anti-cancer protein in the human body, inhibits angiogenesis. Angiogen’s first drug, the Angiostatic Cocktail, has stimulated the bodies of metastatic cancer patients to produce Angiostatin4.5, which inhibits angiogenesis by spawning selective apoptosis of endothelial cells, inhibiting their ability to build new vascular systems in response to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) emitted by tumors. Deprivation of the blood supply necessary for tumor survival is anticipated to result in tumor regression and/or remission.