Angiogenesis in head and neck cancer: An overview

Angiogenesis is a critical player in many pathologic processes, especially in neoplasms. Unregulated angiogenesis is thought to be indispensable in tumor growth and metastasis. Angiogenesis is the growth of new blood vessels from preexisting vasculature. The growing tumor mass requires an adequate amount of oxygen and nutrients which are supplied by complex network of tumor blood microvessels. The identification of molecules involved in the regulation of angiogenesis may provide new possibilities for the development of drugs suitable for inhibition of angiogenesis.