Raf and VEGF: emerging therapeutic targets in Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection and angiogenesis in hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic tumors

Leukemia. 2005 Jan;19(1):18-26. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2403532.

Abstract

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is etiologically associated with several cancers including Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman's disease. KSHV-mediated pathogenesis is dependent mainly on KSHV infection as well as on the microenvironment provided by the growth factors (GFs)/inflammatory cytokines (ICs). Recently, we determined that oncoprotein Raf enhances KSHV infection of target cells. Interestingly, Raf regulates the expression of a variety of GFs/ICs including those involved in angiogenesis such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In this review, we discuss the effect of the Raf-GF/IC autocrine/paracrine loop on KSHV infection of both hematopoietic and nonhematopietic cells, and associated disease conditions.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Herpesviridae Infections / drug therapy*
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human / pathogenicity*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / blood supply*
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / drug therapy*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / drug effects*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics
  • raf Kinases / drug effects*
  • raf Kinases / genetics

Substances

  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • raf Kinases