Angiogenesis in Lung Cancer: Understanding the Roles of Growth Factors

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Growth factors promote angiogenesis, which is a critical process in the development of tumors. One of the therapeutic techniques being investigated in the treatment of cancer is the inhibition of angiogenesis through the inhibition of growth factors. This article aims to summarize the mechanisms by which growth factors influence the unfavorable evolution of lung cancers via angiogenesis as well as the therapeutic approaches that have been developed or are currently being developed in order to provide a foundation for researchers to investigate this question further and for practitioners to discuss therapeutic strategies when confronted with a lung cancer patient. ABSTRACT: Research has shown the role of growth factors in lung cancer angiogenesis. Angiogenesis promotes lung cancer progression by stimulating tumor growth, enhancing tumor invasion, contributing to metastasis, and modifying immune system responses within the tumor microenvironment. As a result, new treatment techniques based on the anti-angiogenic characteristics of compounds have been developed. These compounds selectively block the growth factors themselves, their receptors, or the downstream signaling pathways activated by these growth factors. The EGF and VEGF families are the primary targets in this approach, and several studies are being conducted to propose anti-angiogenic drugs that are increasingly suitable for the treatment of lung cancer, either as monotherapy or as combined therapy. The efficacy of the results are encouraging, but caution must be placed on the higher risk of toxicity, outlining the importance of personalized follow-up in the management of these patients.