Author(s) :

Ruoxi Chen .

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Angiogenesis is a critical biological process in development and disease, particularly in cancer progression, where it supports tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling plays a central role in angiogenesis, making VEGF pathway inhibitors key therapeutic targets. The zebrafish model provides a valuable platform for studying VEGF-driven angiogenesis and screening anti-angiogenic compounds due to its optical transparency, rapid vascular development and genetic similarity to humans. Several VEGF inhibitors, including SU5416 (Semaxanib) and PTK787 (Vatalanib), have been widely used in zebrafish assays and consistently demonstrate dose-dependent inhibition of intersegmental vessel formation. More selective inhibitors such as DMH4 show promising activity with reduced off-target effects. Clinically approved or repurposed agents, including sorafenib and rosuvastatin, exhibit variable inhibitory effects, while natural compounds such as baicalein offer potential lower toxicity alternatives with modest efficacy. Overall, the zebrafish model provides a rapid, cost-effective, and biologically relevant in vivo system for evaluating anti-angiogenic agents. This narrative review summarizes current advances in zebrafish-based anti-angiogenic drug discovery, highlighting both established inhibitors and emerging or repurposed compounds. Future studies should combine zebrafish screening with molecular profiling and prioritize validation in mammalian systems to enhance clinical translation.