Angiogenesis is the process of making new blood vessels. The term comes from 2 Greek words: angio, meaning blood vessel, and genesis, meaning beginning.

In most cases, this is a normal, healthy process. As the human body grows and develops, it needs to make new blood vessels to get blood to all of its cells. As adults, we don't have quite the same need for making new blood vessels, but there are times when angiogenesis is still important. New blood vessels, for instance, help the body heal wounds and repair damage.

But in a person with cancer, this same process creates new, very small blood vessels that give a tumor its own blood supply and allow it to grow.

Anti-angiogenesis is a form of targeted therapy that uses drugs or other substances to stop tumors from making new blood vessels. Without a blood supply, tumors can't grow.

Last Medical Review: 03/10/2009
Last Revised: 03/10/2009

Back to Anti-Angiogenesis Treatment