ABSTRACT
It is now well established that angiogenesis is an important component in the progression and healing of various diseases, including tumor development. Angiogenesis is defined as the process of formation and differentiation of vasculature in which cells induce the growth of new blood vessels from adjacent endothelial cells in order to supply vital components for cell functioning and to remove toxic products of metabolism. Today this term is widely used to discriminate from vasculogenesis, the process of formation of the primordia of blood vessels in the embryo. Angiogenesis occurs as a normal physiological process during periods of tissue growth, such as embryonic development, any increase in muscle or fat, during the menstrual cycle and during pregnancy. During embryonic life, angiogenesis serves to supplement vasculo genesis, while in postnatal life it is physiological and is related to both normal and pathological conditions.
