. This project will examine the ability of a recently described protein, Cyr61, to induce localized vascular neoangiogenesis and to develop assays with which to screen specific inhibitors of this activity. Neoangiogenesis plays a critical role in wound healing and also is necessary for tumor growth and metastasis. Thus, therapeutic inhibitors of Cyr61 could be marketable anti-cancer drugs.
The specific aims of phase I are the following: (1) demonstration that this protein induces neoangiogenesis in vivo; (2) establishment of an in vitro assay based on this protein's anticipated ability to promote the migration of capillary progenitor cells that can be used to screen rapidly for candidate anti-neoangiogenesis drugs; (3) to identify mammalian cell lines deficient in this protein and to use them to demonstrate the ability of Cyr61 to promote the growth of tumor associated vasculature in vivo.
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