
Angiostatin, an internal fragment of plasminogen, is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis, which selectively inhibits endothelial cell proliferation. Angiostatin potently inhibits tumor growth and can maintain metastatic and primary tumors in a dormant state. It is defined by a balance of proliferation and apoptosis of the tumor cells and is composed of plasminogen first four cringle structures. This molecule is generated by proteolytic cleavage of plasminogen.
