Is angiogenesis inhibition the Holy Grail of cancer therapy?

Over the last several decades, oncology research and cancer treatment have concentrated primarily on the cancer cells. Unfortunately, despite the intensive quest to find new and more effective compounds for chemotherapy, the survival rate of patients has not significantly changed, In 1971 Judah Folkman proposed that a solid tumor cannot grow without inducing angiogenesis. Intensive search for molecules blocking the formation of a tumor-nourishing capillary network has identified several promising agents in experimental models. Some of these angiogenesis inhibitors are in clinical trials, but a clear statement about the efficacy cannot be made yet. What are the current trends in angiogenesis research? What areas should we intensively investigate? Can we find the Holy Grail of cancer therapy in the years to come in order to stop the ineffable suffering of millions of cancer patients? (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.