USE OF INHIBITORS OF PLACENTAL GROWTH FACTOR FOR THE TREATMENT OF PATHOLOGICAL ANGIOGENESIS, PATHOLOGICAL ARTERIOGENESIS, INFLAMMATION, TUMOUR FORMATION AND/OR VASCULAR LEAKAGE

摘要

The present invention relates to the use of an angiogenesis inhibitor consisting of an antibody or a fragment thereof specifically binding to placental growth factor, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of pathological angiogenesis, such as cancer, diseases of the eye, pulmonary hypertension, inflammation and oedema. In particular, the invention describes a stress induced phenotype in a transgenic mouse (PIGF4-) which does not produce Placental Growth Factor (PIGF) and which demonstrates an impaired vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-dependent response. It is revealed that PIGF-deficiency has a negative influence on diverse pathological processes of angiogenesis, arteriogenesis and vascular leakage comprising ischemic retinopathy, tumour formation, pulmonary hypertension, vascular leakage (oedema formation) and inflammatory disorders. The invention thus relates to molecules which can inhibit the binding of PIGF to its receptor (VEGFR-1), such as monoclonal antibodies and tetrameric peptides. The invention further relates to the use of these molecules to treat the latter pathological processes.