Napoleone Ferrara
拿破仑·费拉拉
MD
Distinguished Professor, Department of Pathology; Senior Deputy Director for Basic Sciences, Moores Cancer Center病理学系杰出教授；穆尔斯癌症中心基础科学高级副主任
👥Biography 个人简介
Napoleone Ferrara discovered Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and led its development into bevacizumab (Avastin), the first FDA-approved anti-angiogenic cancer therapy. His work transformed the treatment of colorectal, lung, breast, renal, and other cancers, and spawned a multi-billion-dollar class of anti-VEGF biologics used across oncology and ophthalmology.
🧪Research Fields 研究领域
🎓Key Contributions 主要贡献
VEGF Discovery and Characterization
Purified, cloned, and characterized VEGF as the dominant vascular permeability factor and endothelial mitogen specifically required for physiological and pathological angiogenesis, including tumor neovascularization.
Bevacizumab Development and FDA Approval
Led the scientific program that generated anti-VEGF antibody bevacizumab, demonstrating tumor growth inhibition in preclinical models and enabling clinical trials leading to FDA approval in 2004 for colorectal cancer.
VEGF Receptor Biology and Therapeutic Targeting
Defined VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 signaling specificity, established the VEGF trap and small molecule VEGFR kinase inhibitor rationale, and pioneered anti-VEGF therapy for wet AMD transforming ophthalmology.
Representative Works 代表性著作
Vascular endothelial growth factor is a secreted angiogenic mitogen
Science (1989)
Purification and cloning of VEGF as a specific endothelial mitogen and vascular permeability factor, founding the field of VEGF biology and anti-angiogenic oncology.
Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor–induced angiogenesis suppresses tumour growth in vivo
Nature (1993)
Demonstrated that anti-VEGF antibodies suppress xenograft tumor growth in mice, providing the preclinical proof-of-concept for bevacizumab development.
Bevacizumab plus irinotecan, fluorouracil, and leucovorin for metastatic colorectal cancer
New England Journal of Medicine (2004)
Pivotal phase III trial demonstrating bevacizumab addition to IFL chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival, leading to the first FDA-approved anti-VEGF cancer therapy.
🏆Awards & Recognition 奖项与荣誉
📄Data Sources 数据来源
Last updated: 2026-01-15 | All information from publicly available academic sources
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