Angiogenesis is a biological process by which new capillaries are formed and it occurs in
many physiological and pathological conditions. It is controlled by the net balance between
molecules that have positive and negative regulatory activity and this concept had led to the
notion of the “angiogenic switch,” depending on an increased production of one or more of
the positive regulators of angiogenesis. Numerous inducers of angiogenesis have been
identified and this review offers a historical account of the relevant literature concerning the …