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Folkman: Angiogenesis research rooted in ophthalmology
A renowned cancer researcher describes the earliest experiments with anti-angiogenic drugs, which offer hope for several retinal diseases.
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 Judah Folkman |
The concept of anti-angiogenic agents, which has revolutionized cancer research, has led to the development of various ophthalmic therapies, according to a prominent medical researcher.
Angiogenic molecules include vascular endothelial growth factor, a protein contributing to age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and other ocular diseases.
“The whole beginning of angiogenesis research for cancer started with ophthalmology,” Judah Folkman, MD, of Harvard Medical School and Children’s Hospital Boston, told Ocular Surgery News. “We always had ophthalmology in mind.”
Dr. Folkman is scheduled to give the keynote address during the opening session of the American Academy of Ophthalmology meeting at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 11 in New Orleans.
Revolutionary findings
In a 1971 New England Journal of Medicine article, Dr. Folkman hypothesized that tumor growth depends on angiogenesis, or the growth of new blood vessels. His theory was criticized throughout the biomedical community, but early discoveries soon silenced the detractors.
Early angiogenesis experiments were performed in rabbit eyes, whose corneas were ideal for detecting new blood vessels, Dr. Folkman said.
“In order to prove that a tumor could make a protein that could diffuse from the tumor and stimulate new capillaries, the only way we could show that was in the eye,” he said.
The experiments demonstrated that proteins from the tumor triggered the growth of blood vessels.
Before those experiments, the idea of such proteins existing was considered far-fetched, he said.
Dr. Folkman and fellow researchers later used tiny polymer implants that released angiogenic proteins into a rabbit cornea. After the implants were removed and diffusion of angiogenic proteins was halted, the corneal blood vessels gradually disappeared, he said.
New applications and drugs
In ophthalmology, angiogenesis research has reached new heights with the development of new drugs such as Lucentis (ranibizumab, Genentech), Dr. Folkman said.
“The demonstration of what Lucentis can do has brought many researchers and companies into the field, and they’re working now on other angiogenesis inhibitors including eye drops that may treat AMD,” he said. “Diabetic retinopathy is also beginning to be treated with Lucentis in clinical trials.”
For more information:
- Judah Folkman, MD, can be reached at Children’s Hospital Boston, Vascular Biology Program - Karp 12, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115; 617-919-2346; fax: 617-739-5891; e-mail: judah.folkman@childrens.harvard.edu.
Reference:
- Folkman J. Tumor angiogenesis: therapeutic implications. N Engl J Med. 1971;285:1182-1186.
- Folkman J. Angiogenesis: An organizing principle for drug discovery? Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2007;6:273-286.
- Matt Hasson is an OSN Staff Writer who covers all aspects of ophthalmology. He focuses on regulatory, legislative and practice management topics.