Hepatocellular carcinoma

Colorectal cancer

Angiogenesis

VEGF receptors

Vandetanib

Regorafenib

Cancer research

Aflibercept

Sunitinib

Pazopanib

Bevacizumab

Internal medicine

Pharmacology

Chemotherapy

Sorafenib

Oncology

Ramucirumab

Medicine

Vascular endothelial growth factor

Cancer

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Anti-angiogenic therapy is one of the promising strategies for many types of solid cancers. Bevacizumab (Avastin), a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) A, was approved for the first time as an anti-angiogenic drug for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004. In addition, the other VEGF pathway inhibitors including small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (sunitinib, sorafenib, and pazopanib), a soluble VEGF decoy receptor (aflibercept), and a humanized monoclonal antibody of VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) (ramucirumab) have been approved for cancer therapy. Although many types of VEGF pathway inhibitors can improve survival in most cancer patients, some patients have little or no beneficial effect from them. The primary or acquired resistance towards many oncological drugs, including anti-VEGF inhibitors, is a common problem in cancer treatment. This review summarizes the proposed alternative mechanisms of angiogenesis other than the VEGF pathway. These mechanisms are involved in the development of resistance to anti-VEGF therapies in cancer patients.

Resistance to Anti-Angiogenic Therapy in Cancer—Alterations to Anti-VEGF Pathway