Endoglin - a promising target in anti-cancer therapy?

Cancer is a global problem and one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The mechanism of carcinogenesis is complicated and still being explored. It is known, however, that the growth and development of cancer depends to a large extent on the formation of a network of new blood vessels within the tumor, which is to provide cancer cells with optimal access to nutrients and oxygen. The process by which existing vessels form new ones is called angiogenesis, and it is triggered during tumorigenesis. So far, a number of factors that stimulate angiogenesis in tumors have been described. Endoglin, also known as the CD105 antigen, is one of these factors. It is a membrane protein, characteristic for active, proliferating endothelial cells, which functions as a co-receptor for the TGF beta family. Endoglin has been shown to be involved in angiogenesis in many cancers and its presence often correlates with an unfavorable course of the disease. This has made it a target for anti-cancer therapy. Phase I/II/III clinical trials are currently underway to confirm the therapeutic usefulness of anti-endoglin TRC105 antibodies. However, the results obtained so far are not unambiguous. Nevertheless, innovative treatment strategies, such as a vaccine or the use of antibody-drug conjugates, are being developed and appear promising.