Synthetic pepticles derived from the angiostatin K4 domain inhibit endothelial cell migration

Angiogenesis, the process by which new capillaries are formedfrom preexisting blood vessels, represents a vital function for thegrowth of normal tissues during embryogenesis as well as for thepathological growth of tumors. Experimental evidence hasshown that both primary and metastatic tumors need to recruitangiogenic vessels for their growth, and form their owncirculatory system by up-regulating angiogenic stimulators anddown-regulating angiogenesis inhibitors.[1] Blocking of positiveregulators or utilization of negative regulators to suppressangiogenesis results in a delay or regression of induced tumors.In particular, negative regulators of angiogenesis, such asangiostatin, endostatin, and antagonists for integrin v3,displayed profound antitumor activities in vivo.[2]