Using blood vessel formation within tumours as a way to stop cancer growth

In order for tumours to grow larger than about 1 millimetre across they must have their own blood supply to enable enough oxygen and nutrients to reach the cells. The tumours therefore make new blood vessels, from existing ones, which specifically bring food and oxygen to the cancer cells. This process is called angiogenesis. If it is possible to stop this from happening or blocking the blood flow into tumours, this is a possible way to try to stop the cancer. Professor Hodivala-Dilke's research group is studying some of the molecules involved in angiogenesis, and they have promising findings that show a possible new way to efficiently stop tumour growth. With her Worldwide Cancer Research grant, she wants to test the effectiveness and safety of these methods, alongside chemotherapy, with the hope that these methods will one day be used to treat human cancer.