Timelines: 1989
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Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Napoleone Ferrara
Trying to starve tumors
Genentech molecular biologist Napoleone Ferrara leads a team that characterizes VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), a molecule with pro-angiogenic properties. Angiogenesis refers to the growth of blood vessel networks. Ferrara’s discovery leads to the development of Avastin® (bevacizumab, rhuMAb-VEGF). Avastin is a recombinantly-humanized monoclonal antibody that interferes with angiogenic processes. It is approved in 2004 for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, and later for non-small cell lung cancer, HER2-negative breast cancer, glioblastoma, and renal cell carcinoma.
