The "angiogenetic ladder", step-wise angiogenesis inhibition in metastatic colorectal cancer.

The number of anti-angiogenic drugs who demonstrated activity in metastatic colorectal cancer patients is arising but there is still much debate on which is the optimal use of this class of agents, with particular emphasis given on when (meant as in which line of treatment) and how (meant as in duration of treatment). We sampled the data of randomised phase II-III trials employing this type of drugs, with particular emphasis on trying to "highlight" situations where anti-angiogenetic treatment could provide most benefit. The review displays all relevant clinical data regarding the use of anti-angiogenic drugs in metastatic colorectal cancer and comments on potential implications of these trials in everyday clinical practice.