1. ANGIOGENESIS IN PSORIASIS: THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS.
- Author
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Folkman, Judah
- Subjects
- *
PSORIASIS , *NEOVASCULARIZATION , *BLOOD-vessel development , *SKIN diseases , *CANCER cells , *ENDOTHELIUM - Abstract
Within solid neoplasms. the population of tumor cells and the population of capillary endothelial cells constitute a highly integrated ecosystem. Tumor cells release an endothelial mitogen. Tumor-Angiogenesis-Factor (T.A.F.) which continually stimulates new capillaries to grow into the tumor. When T.A.F. is blocked, neovascularization is prevented and tumor nodules stop expanding at a diameter less than 2.5 mm. They enter a dormant phase because they are forced to live by simple diffusion of nutrients and wastes. Thus "anti-angiogenesis can force a population of tumor cells to become dormant at a tiny diameter. In this paper an analogy is drawn between tumor angiogenesis and the angiogenesis which accompanies psoriasis. if the relationship between psoriatic epithelium and its capillary endothelium turns out to be similar to the integration of capillaries by solid tumors, then "anti-angiogenesis' may eventually become a useful therapeutic approach in psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 1972
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