ABSTRACT
Human endometrium exhibits rapid cyclical growth and shedding throughout the reproductive life of the female, and thus provides an excellent model for the study of normal physiological angiogenesis. Current interest in angiogenesis follows the recent discovery of a number of highly specific angiogenesis promoters and inhibitors, and some of their receptors. The ability to manipulate the angiogenic process is of immediate relevancy to a wide range of clinical applications. Perhaps the most high profile of these is the inhibition of solid tumour growth and metastases. In addition to this, the ability to manipulate blood vessel growth is relevant to gynecological conditions such as endometriosis, menorrhagia and ovarian cancer, and numerous other clinical situations such as wound healing and ischemia, and a wide range of pathologies such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetic retinopathy.
