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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Mar 31.
Published in final edited form as: Nat Rev Cancer. 2012 Oct;12(10):699–709. doi: 10.1038/nrc3366

Figure 1. Overcoming resistance to inhibitors of VEGF signalling by blocking angiogenesis and tumour progression.

Figure 1

A schematic representation of the development and resolution of resistance to angiogenesis inhibitors, based on evidence from preclinical studies, is shown. a | Before treatment with an angiogenesis inhibitor the tumour is highly vascular, rapidly growing and accompanied by metastases. b | After treatment with an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signalling, the main tumour is smaller and less vascular but is more hypoxic, has more myeloid cells and is more invasive. Tumour growth continues without angiogenesis by co-option of normal blood vessels. Tumour cells undergo epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), become more mesenchymal, invade surrounding tissues and metastasize. c | After inhibition of the pathways involved in tumour progression together with VEGF signalling, the tumour is smaller, has a ball-like shape, is less invasive and has no metastases.