Endostatin
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An endostatin is a naturally-occurring fragment of one of the collagen proteins, found in the human body, that is reported to serve as an anti-angiogenesis agent. Similar to angiostatins, endostatins may interfere with the binding of growth factors (such as vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF) by inhibiting them. In other words, endostatins are reported to block the attachment of growth factors to angiogenesis factors.
Endostatins are currently being studied as part of cancer research. In a Phase I clinical trial of Endostatin [[1]], of the 19 patients treated, 12 were switched out of the trial by their physicians due to continued progression of their disease. Two patients continued to be treated, and the remaining patients withdrew on their own. The trial, designed primarily to demonstrate safety, indeed showed that the drug was safe and well-tolerated.
In a Phase II clinical trial of Endostatin [[2]] forty two patients with pancreatic endocrine tumors or carcinoid tumors were treated. Of the 40 patients which could be evaluated for a radiologic response, none experienced partial response to therapy, as defined by World Health Organization criteria. The conclusion from the trial was that "Treatment with rhEndostatin did not result in significant tumor regression in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors."
[edit] References
[[3]] Phase II study of recombinant human endostatin in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors. J Clin Oncol. 2006 Aug 1;24(22):3555-61.
[[4]] Endostatin: are we waiting for Godot? J Natl Cancer Inst. 2006 Jun 7;98(11):731-3
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