Objectives: Adenosine concentration significantly increases in tumour microenvironment contributing to tumorigenic processes including cell proliferation, survival, invasion and of special interest in this review angiogenesis.
Key findings: This review summarizes the role of pharmacological adenosine receptor agonist and antagonist in regulating angiogenesis for a better understanding and hence a better management of angiogenesis-associated disorders.
Summary: Depending upon the pharmacological characteristics of adenosine receptor subtypes, adenosine elicits anti- or pro-angiogenic responses in stimulated cells. Inhibition of the stimulatory effect of adenosine signalling on angiogenesis using specific pharmacological adenosine receptor agonist, and antagonist is a potentially novel strategy to suppress angiogenesis in tumours.
Keywords: adenosine; adenosine receptors; angiogenesis; receptor agonist/antagonist.
© 2017 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.