Selective destruction of the tumour vasculature by targeting the endothelial cytoskeleton

Low molecular weight vascular disrupting agents (VDAs) offer a unique approach for targeting established tumour vessels as a cancer therapy. While progress has been made in deciphering cellular, cytoskeletal and molecular mechanisms by which VDAs accomplish collapse of tumour vessel networks, the basis of their tumour selectivity remains a challenging issue. With evidence to show that VDAs as single agents only moderately affect tumour growth, the focus is now on uncovering mechanisms of treatment resistance and identifying new targets.

Section editors:Victoria Heath and Roy Bicknell – University of Birmingham, Institute for Biomedical Research, The Medical School, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK