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The Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway
Angiogenesis, the formation of new capillaries and blood vessels, is a process involved in tumor growth.
9Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a primary mediator of angiogenesis in normal physiology and in certain diseases.
9 VEGF and VEGF receptor-2–mediated signaling and angiogenesis may play a key role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer and lung cancer.
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12 The blockade of VEGF receptor-2 signaling inhibits angiogenesis (ie, blood supply) to tumors.
12 A number of small molecule inhibitors and antibody-based agents that target the VEGF pathway have been studied across various cancer types.
9 In clinical studies, targeting the VEGF receptor-2 pathway has shown promise as a second-line treatment for patients with gastric or lung cancer.
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Ramucirumab Receives Several FDA Approvals in 2014
A New Option for Advanced Stomach Cancer
On April 21, 2014, ramucirumab (Cyramza; Eli Lilly), a human VEGF receptor-2 antagonist, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a single agent for the treatment of patients with advanced stomach cancer or GEJ adenocarcinoma that has progressed with or after fluoropyrimidine- or platinum-containing chemotherapy.
13 Ramucirumab is a recombinant human immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody, also referred to as an angiogenesis inhibitor (ie, blocking the blood supply to tumors).
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