The underlying causes which bring about abnormal cellular behavior are specific to each type of cancer. The success of tumor-targeted therapy has been limited by this diversity. New blood vessel growth from preexisting vasculature stimulated by biochemical signals is termed angiogenesis. Diffusion from nearby capillaries can supply adequate nutrition for tumors less than 2 mm in size, but for continued growth the tumors must develop their own blood supply. Thus, tumor vasculature has emerged as a potential target for therapeutic intervention. The goal of antiangiogenic therapy is to interfere with angiogenesis mechanisms, denying tumors a viable blood supply. Curcumin is a natural product isolated from the spice turmeric, and it has been established to have antiangiogenic properties in vitro and in vivo. Aromatic enone and aromatic dienone analogs exhibit excellent in vitro inhibition. The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of these antiangiogenic compounds will be discussed.
Back to Frontiers in Chemistry and Medicine V (General Session)
Back to The 56th Southeast Regional Meeting 2004 (November 10-13, 2004)