Responses to anti-angiogenic therapies.

Vascular tumors occur in approximately 10% of infants, and range from small cherry-red lesions to large, life-threatening tumors. Although the majority of these tumors involute after several years, there are few therapeutic options and their use is limited by the risk of side-effects. The recent increase in understanding of angiogenesis has led to investigations of new antiangiogenic treatment options using models of vascular tumors in mice. These studies have demonstrated the success of a variety of antiangiogenic approaches, including systemic administration of the antiangiogenic proteins AGM-1470 and angiostatin or of the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor batimastat, and gene gun therapy with interleukin-12. Although these trials provide further evidence of the role of angiogenesis in the enlargement of these vascular tumors, their potential utility and safety await future trials in patients.