Blood vessels are vital for providing oxygen and nutrients to both normal and cancerous tissues. In cancer, the process of angiogenesis is often upregulated to support the rapidly growing tumor mass. Tumors secrete angiogenic factors like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to stimulate the formation of new blood vessels. These newly formed vessels are often leaky and poorly organized, contributing to a chaotic tumor microenvironment. Anti-angiogenic therapies aim to inhibit this process, thereby starving the tumor of essential nutrients and oxygen.
