Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Oligonucleótido no codificante del factor de crecimiento endotelial vascular
Vascular endothelial growth factor-antisense oligonucleotide (VAS-kyoo-ler EN-doh-THEE-lee-ul grohth FAK-ter AN-tee-sents AH-lih-goh-NOO
A substance that has been studied in the treatment of cancer. It binds to the RNA for a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that stimulates the growth of new blood vessels. Vascular endothelial growth factor-antisense oligonucleotide blocks the cell’s ability to make VEGF, which may kill tumors that need new blood vessels to grow. It is a type of antisense oligonucleotide and a type of gene expression inhibitor. Also called VEGF-AS.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.