A novel four-step system for screening angiogenesis inhibitors.

Angiogenesis exhibits a significant effect on tumor progression. Inhibiting angiogenesis may provide significant advantages over currently available therapeutics for cancer therapies thus, the development of a system of screening angiogenesis is essential. In the present study, a novel available system of screening angiogenesis inhibitors by four steps was developed. The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), yolk sac membrane and early chick embryo blood island assay were initially performed to obtain possible antitumor compounds. The MMTV-PyMT transgenic breast cancer mouse model was used for final screening and to confirm potential antitumor effects. Four angiogenesis inhibitors were isolated from 480 compounds, which were obtained from ICCB known bioactives library, by a combination of the CAM, yolk sac membrane and early chick embryo blood island assay. The MMTV-PyMT mouse was treated with one of four agents and it was demonstrated that the tumor volume was significantly inhibited. These results demonstrate that the four-step screening system is feasible.