Research Progress of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A in the Pathogenesis of Cervical Cancer

WANG Guang-jiao; YANG Xin; HAO Min

Abstract：Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a specific regulator of angiogenesis. In the transition from cervical lesions to cervical cancer, VEGF-A provides tumor cells with nutrients and transfer pathways by inducing angiogenesis. A variety of molecules that play a crucial role in VEGF-A activated angiogenesis signaling pathways participate in the development of cervical cancer. E6, E7 proteins and immune Toll-like receptors induced by HPV infection and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) that have been reported to regulate the cellular fatty acid metabolism participate in the regulation of VEGF-A upstream signaling pathway. A variety of micoRNAs are also involved in the regulation of VEGF-A post-transcription and downstream signaling pathways, then induces angiogenesis in cervical cancer by promoting endothelial cell proliferation, survival, migration, and increasing vascular permeability. In addition, VEGF-A also can activate the DLL/Notch signaling pathway, which plays a key role in the process of endothelial cell differentiation. This article will do a review in the structure and function of VEGF-A and its related signal pathways in the pathogenesis of cervical carcinoma and targeted therapy, which may provide new ideas for analysing the pathogenesis of cervical cancer and searching for its therapeutic targets.