Control of Angiogenesis by Heparin and Other Sulfated Polysaccharides

Abstract

Angiogenesis, the growth of new capillary blood vessels, plays an important role in normal development and in physiologic functions such as occur in the female reproductive system (Koos and LeMaire, 1983). Angiogenesis is also essential to the repair of wounds, peptic ulcers and myocardial infarctions (Hunt et. al, 1984). In these physiologic and repair conditions, angiogenesis is regulated and switched on and off at predictable times. In a variety of disease processes however, angiogenesis is unabated and unregulated. Tumor growth and metastasis are angiogenesis-dependent (Folkman, 1990; Folkman 1991). Continuous induction of neovascularization is necessary for progressive tumor growth and increasing neovascularization of certain tumors correlates with increasing metastatic potential (Weidner et. al, 1991). Many non-neoplastic diseases are also dominated by unregulated angiogenesis, for example, diabetic retinopathy and hemangioma (Folkman, 1987).