The blood vessels are a highway system that transports blood throughout our body. As the blood circulates through these vessels, oxygen and vital nutrients in the blood pass through a wall of endothelial cells to support the survival and growth of surrounding cells.2
Because cancer cells are defined by their uncontrolled growth, they have an abnormally high need for blood supply compared to normal cells, without which they would not be able to maintain their growth. To ensure their own blood supply, cancer cells release a growth factor called VEGF. VEGF can bind to VEGF receptor found on the surface of nearby endothelial cells and stimulate these cells to divide.3
As the endothelial cells close to the cancer cells divide, they sprout out of the original blood vessels and form a new "branch" that migrates toward the cancer cells.3
Ultimately, the new blood vessels propagate through the cancer cells to nourish them with critical nutrients. Through this process, also known as angiogenesis, cancer cells are able to further proliferate.
Ziv-aflibercept is a anti-angiogenesis drug engineered from VEGF receptors and are able to bind to VEGF better than normal VEGF receptors.4 By trapping VEGF away, ziv-aflibercept prevents VEGF from activating VEGF receptors on the endothelial cells. This prevents new blood vessels from growing, and since cancer cells are unable to access high amounts of nutrients provided through the blood, they are unable to grow.