ABSTRACT
Effects of Shark Cartilage ..........................................................................631
30.5 Conclusion and Future Prospects ..............................................................632
References ............................................................................................................633
A tumor frequently induces new capillary vessels to obtain nutrients from the host. It
is referred to as “tumor-induced angiogenesis” and is a critical process for tumor
growth. Tumor-induced angiogenesis is believed to be a good target for cancer
therapy. In addition, some diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis also require
angiogenesis for the progression of disease [1,2]. Folkman and his coworkers first
demonstrated that animal cartilage, avascular tissue, has an ability to suppress
tumor-induced angiogenesis [3]. Thereafter, Langer and associates have demon-
strated that shark cartilage or its extract implanted near a tumor can also suppress the
tumor-induced angiogenesis and tumor growth [4]. Because the anti-angiogenesis
activity in the cartilage was co-purified with collagenase (matrix metalloprotease:
MMP) inhibitory activity, it has been suggested that the MMP inhibitory activity
may play a significant role in the suppression of angiogenesis and cancer invasion
and metastasis [5-7]. However, the mechanisms involved in the inhibition of tumor-
induced angiogenesis by cartilage have not been elucidated in detail until now.
