Is angiogenesis good or bad?

Angiogenesis is considered good because it forms new capillaries out of existing blood vessels in the body. This process assists in the body to heal from wounds and carry out various vital functions such as migration, growth, and differentiation of endothelial cells. Angiogenesis heals wounds by forming new blood vessels and invading the wound clot, organizing it into a microvascular network throughout the granulation tissue Angiogenesis begins before one is born and continues throughout life. Thus, it is a necessary process for the growth required by the body for proper functioning. Angiogenesis also allows for the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the body’s tissues and organs. If some tissues experience hypoxia, cells in the affected area send out chemical signals which trigger the process of angiogenesis. In response, endothelial cells arrange themselves in a manner that allows new capillaries to form. Without angiogenesis, tissues and organs would not be able to receive enough oxygen, and ultimately die. 

Angiogenesis can also have harmful effects if it supports the growth and migrations of tumors inside the body. Tumors require a constant supply of blood in order to grow and spread. Just like healthy tissues, they need to be supplied through blood vessels in order to stay alive. To acquire the blood they need, they send out chemical signals which trigger the process of angiogenesis. When this occurs, angiogenesis is harmful to the body, as it is forming new blood vessels which fuel the tumor with oxygen and nutrients. The tumor is then able to grow bigger in size, and cancer cells are able to metastasize elsewhere in the body.