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14th October, 2009
European Survey on Standards of Care in paediatric oncology centres. J. R. Kowalczyk, M. Samardakiewicz, K. Pritchard-Jones, R. Ladenstein, S. Essiaf, E. Fitzgerald, G. Petrarulo, G. Vassal - EJC , Volume 61, pp 11-19
8th December, 2014
The purpose of this website is to provide good and clear information about the long-term effects of childhood cancer and to refer to the various late-effects outpatient clinics (LATER outpatient clinics) that exist in the Netherlands.
8th September, 2015
Cancer in young people is rare, but it is still a major health issue in Europe. Each year, more than 6,000 young people in Europe die of cancer. There are more than 300,000 European childhood cancer survivors (in 2020, they will be nearly half a million): two-thirds of them have some late side effects of treatment, that are severe and impact on the daily life of half of those affected.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a protein that stimulates the growth of blood vessels. More specifically, it promotes angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones), vascular permeability, and endothelial cell growth. It plays a significant role in various biological processes, such as embryonic development and wound healing, but is also implicated in diseases like cancer.
In recent years, the role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in human health and disease has garnered significant attention from the medical and scientific community. This protein, crucial to the formation of blood vessels, has an undeniable importance in understanding many health conditions and paving the way for future medical breakthroughs.
VEGF is a signal protein produced by cells that stimulates the formation of blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. Initially recognized for its vascular endothelial cell specificity, VEGF is now identified to have a wide range of effects in various types of cells and tissues.
Understanding VEGF is vital as its functions are not just limited to healthy bodily functions, but also in the pathogenesis of diverse diseases. Its overexpression or under expression can contribute to a myriad of diseases, including cancer and macular degeneration.
VEGF, an integral part of the system that restores the oxygen supply to tissues when blood circulation is inadequate, is a glycoprotein that induces angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, and endothelial cell growth. This protein intricately regulates cellular mechanisms for the maintenance and optimization of bodily functions.
Biologically, five different forms of VEGF exist, namely VEGF-A to VEGF-E, each with unique roles in angiogenesis and processes like cell migration, cell differentiation, and the modulation of blood vessel permeability.
VEGF’s function as a vasodilator involves increasing the diameter of blood vessels, enhancing blood flow to tissues. It also acts as a chemoattractant, attracting macrophages and granulocytes, aiding in the regulation of the immune response.
VEGF production is predominantly stimulated by hypoxia (oxygen deficit in tissues) through a well-coordinated interaction between subcellular structures, proteins, and enzymes. VEGF gene expression is controlled by Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1), which becomes active under low-oxygen conditions.
VEGF plays a vital role in the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones (angiogenesis) and the creation of blood vessels during the early stages of embryonic development (vasculogenesis). It helps regulate these processes and ensure oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues and organs.
VEGF affects endothelial cells by stimulating them to survive, proliferate, migrate, differentiate, and form vascular structures. The interaction between VEGF and its receptors on endothelial cells represents a key target for therapies aiming to inhibit or stimulate angiogenesis.
Anomalies in VEGF levels can lead to a variety of diseases. Overexpressed VEGF is linked to pathological angiogenesis involved in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and other inflammatory diseases. Conversely, VEGF underexpression is associated with ischemic and mitochondrial disorders.
Aberrant VEGF expression has been implicated in the promotion of tumor growth and metastasis by enhancing angiogenesis, hence providing cancer cells with nutrients and oxygen needed for proliferation.
Increased levels of VEGF also play a significant role in eye diseases like macular degeneration—characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the macula, leading to vision loss.
Treatments targeting VEGF have shown promise in treating various diseases. In cancer treatment, anti-VEGF therapies can help inhibit tumor growth. However, resistance to treatment and adverse effects are some of the challenges faced in clinical applications.
Understanding VEGF has revolutionized modern medicine, particularly in understanding disease processes and developing treatment strategies. Anti-VEGF drugs, like Bevacizumab, are now frontline treatments for various forms of cancer and macular degeneration.
The intricate role of VEGF in diseases and health demonstrates its paramount importance in biomedicine. Understanding its functions and applications can significantly impact the diagnosis and treatment strategies of numerous diseases.
There remain many unexplored aspects of VEGF. Future research should focus on building a more comprehensive understanding of its multiple forms, complex mechanisms, associations with diseases, and potential in therapeutic applications.
The main function of VEGF is to stimulate the formation of blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. It’s also crucial in vasculogenesis, the formation of blood vessels during the early stages of embryonic development.
VEGF can contribute to cancer progression by stimulating the growth of new blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to cancerous tumors, aiding their growth and metastasis.
Yes, therapeutic strategies can modulate VEGF levels in the body, such as anti-VEGF therapy, which has shown significant promise in treating diseases like cancer and macular degeneration.
In conditions like macular degeneration, excessive VEGF levels can lead to the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the macula, an area in the retina responsible for sharp central vision, which can lead to vision loss.
VEGF’s understanding has led to the development of drugs like Bevacizumab, used to treat various cancers and macular degeneration by inhibiting VEGF and reducing the growth of abnormal blood vessels.
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