Liposome-delivered angiostatin inhibits breast cancer growth and metastasis

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, is required for tumours to grow and metastasise. Control of angiogenesis is complex. It is believed that human tumours have the ability early in their natural history to produce factors which 'switch' on angiogenesis. This opens up the possibility of inhibiting tumour growth through inhibiting angiogenesis. One such anti-angiogenic factor is angiostatin, which has already been shown to have significant antitumour growth effect in laboratory animals. How to deliver angiostatin to the tumour, when to initiate therapy and which administration schedule is most effective remain unknown.