Angiogenesis and acute myeloid leukemia

Background Angiogenesis is a word of Greek origin, 'angeio' refers to blood vessel, and genesis refers to creation, meaning the generation of new blood vessels. This process is essential for vertebrate development and plays a key role in human diseases. Angiogenesis is generally understood to be essential for the growth and metastasis of solid tumors and is also important in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Methods This review summarizes the essential features of physiological and tumoral angiogenesis and the methods used for their assessment. Results Technologies for evaluating angiogenesis in AML are discussed and the prognostic significance of angiogenic factors is considered in the context of optimizing treatment. Conclusion As acute myelogenous leukemia and endothelial cells depend on each other for survival and proliferation, therapy directed against several pro-angiogenic factors might help to enhance the AML outcome.