Angiogenic and lymphangiogenic molecules in hematological malignancies.

In this review, the role of angiogenic and lymphangiogenic growth factors in hematological malignancies is summarized, alongside with possible therapeutic applications. Recent data demonstrate the importance of angiogenesis in hematologic malignancies including leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. Expression of angiogenic polypeptides vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) associate with clinical characteristics in human leukemia and lymphoma, and their serum concentrations serve as predictors of poor prognosis. VEGF and VEGF-C also act as survival factors on leukemia. Furthermore, certain hematological malignancies both produce angiogenic or lymphangiogenic growth factors including VEGF and VEGF-C, and also express their receptors, resulting in the generation of autocrine loops that may support cancer cell survival and proliferation. Inhibition of the action of key regulators of endothelial cell growth, alone or in combination with other antiangiogenic drugs and/or established chemo- or immunotherapy regimens, is a potential target for therapeutic intervention in hematological malignancies.