Angiogenesis: How New Blood Vessels Shape Health and Disease

When working with angiogenesis, the process of forming new blood vessels from existing ones. Also known as new blood vessel formation, it supports growth, repair, and can fuel disease.

One of the biggest drivers of this process is VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor. VEGF binds to receptors on endothelial cells, telling them to multiply and sprout new capillaries. In simple terms, VEGF is the signal that says “build a road” when tissues need more oxygen or nutrients. Understanding angiogenesis starts with seeing how VEGF pulls the strings.

When you get a cut or a scrape, wound healing kicks in, and angiogenesis is front‑and‑center. New vessels bring in immune cells, nutrients, and oxygen to the damaged area, speeding up tissue repair. Without this vascular push, scar tissue would stay pale and weak. That’s why clinicians watch angiogenic activity as a marker of how well a wound is closing.

Cancer, on the other hand, hijacks the same system. Tumor growth often outpaces its blood supply, so tumors release VEGF and other signals to force the body to grow new vessels. Those vessels then feed the tumor, allowing it to expand and even spread to distant sites. In this context, angiogenesis is a double‑edged sword—essential for normal healing but dangerous when a tumor takes control.

Low oxygen levels, or hypoxia, are a common trigger for angiogenesis. When cells sense that they aren’t getting enough oxygen, they increase VEGF production, which in turn fuels new vessel formation. This feedback loop helps restore oxygen balance in muscles after exercise, in the placenta during pregnancy, and unfortunately, in growing tumors as well.

Because uncontrolled angiogenesis fuels disease, anti‑angiogenic therapy has become a major focus in modern medicine. Drugs like bevacizumab block VEGF receptors, limiting the blood supply to tumors and slowing their progression. Similar strategies are used in eye disease, where excess vessel growth can cause blindness, and in rheumatoid arthritis, where new vessels fuel joint inflammation.

The heart and blood vessels aren’t immune to angiogenic signals either. In atherosclerosis, plaques can become unstable when new vessels grow into them, sometimes leading to rupture and heart attacks. Researchers are figuring out how to balance the need for repair with the risk of encouraging dangerous vessel growth in arteries.

Current research is buzzing with clinical trials testing novel VEGF inhibitors, gene‑therapy approaches, and even lifestyle interventions that might naturally modulate angiogenesis. As scientists map out the exact molecular steps, patients can expect more precise treatments that target the right pathways at the right time.

Below you’ll find a curated collection of articles that dive deeper into these topics—from the chemistry of VEGF blockers to real‑world tips for supporting healthy vessel growth during recovery. Explore the range of insights and see how a better grasp of angiogenesis can inform your health decisions.