Angiogenic factors as tumor markers.

The process of angiogenesis plays a critical role in tumor growth and metastasis. Recently, there has been much interest in the possible use of angiogenic growth factors as tumor markers. This paper will review the results thus far of attempts at measuring various angiogenic factors in bodily fluids. In the future, angiogenic factors will most likely be useful as a monitor of therapy and/or a predictor of outcome after cancer has been diagnosed.