Angiogenesis inhibitors and radiation in multimodality cancer therapy: Preclinical and clinical studies

Radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery share roles in modern cancer therapy targeting neoplastic tumor cells. Greater understanding of the importance of angiogenesis and tumor neovascularization in oncology has led to development of another therapeutic modality, angiogenesis inhibitors, which specifically target the tumor vasculature. Antiangiogenic agents have been shown to act synergistically with traditional cytotoxic treatments, including radiation, against a variety of tumor histologies. Their selective incorporation in multimodality therapy based on tumor type, angiogenic profile, and individual patient response offers the potential for greater disease control. In this review we summarize studies evaluating angiogenesis inhibitors combined with radiation in cancer therapy, and progress made towards optimally incorporating these agents into established treatment regimens.