Abstract: An improved method for treatment of malignancies is based on the interaction between nerve cells and angiogenesis of malignancies. In general, the method comprises: (1) harvesting neural stem cells; (2) culturing neural stem cells under conditions such that the cells proliferate while retaining their ability to differentiate; (3) applying a biocompatible adhesive to a post-surgical site of a malignancy; and (4) following the application of the biocompatible adhesive to the post-surgical site of the malignancy, applying the cultured neural stem cells to the post-surgical site of the malignancy to remove residual tumor cells and to induce endothelial cell apoptosis. The method can further comprise the administration of a therapeutically effective quantity of at least one anti-neoplastic therapeutic agent or administration of a therapeutically effective quantity of anti-neoplastic ionizing radiation. The invention further encompasses kits for use in treating malignancies.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting angiogenesis within a tissue by providing exogenous PEDF to cells associated with the tissue. The presence of exogenous PEDF inhibits angiogenesis within the tissue, in part by interfering with the ability of vascular endothelia to expand within the tissue. The invention also provides a method for determining the severity of a tumor be assaying for the presence of PEDF within the tumor. To facilitate the inventive methods, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including sources of PEDF.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting angiogenesis within a tissue by providing exogenous PEDF to cells associated with the tissue. The presence of exogenous PEDF inhibits angiogenesis within the tissue, in part by interfering with the ability of vascular endothelia to expand within the tissue. The invention also provides a method for determining the severity of a tumor be assaying for the presence of PEDF within the tumor. To facilitate the inventive methods, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including sources of PEDF.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting angiogenesis within a tissue by providing exogenous PEDF to cells associated with the tissue. The presence of exogenous PEDF inhibits angiogenesis within the tissue, in part by interfering with the ability of vascular endothelia to expand within the tissue. The invention also provides a method for determining the severity of a tumor by assaying for the presence of PEDF within the tumor. The invention further provides a method of inhibiting endothelial cell migration, a method of stimulating the growth of hair in a mammal, a method for inhibiting the growth of a tumor, a method of inducing differentiation of a neuroblastoma cell, a method of slowing the growth of a neuroblastoma cell, and method of treating ischemic retinopathy in a mammal. To facilitate the inventive methods, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including sources of PEDF.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting angiogenesis within a tissue by providing exogenous PEDF to cells associated with the tissue. The presence of exogenous PEDF inhibits angiogenesis within the tissue, in part by interfering with the ability of vascular endothelia to expand within the tissue. The invention also provides a method for determining the severity of a tumor by assaying for the presence of PEDF within the tumor. The invention further provides a method of inhibiting endothelial cell migration, a method of stimulating the growth of hair in a mammal, a method for inhibiting the growth of a tumor, a method of inducing differentiation of a neuroblastoma cell, a method of slowing the growth of a neuroblastoma cell, and method of treating ischemic retinopathy in a mammal. To facilitate the inventive methods, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including sources of PEDF.

Abstract: The invention relates to the inhibition of angiogenesis and neuroblastoma growth. In particular, the invention relates to the treatment of angiogenesis dependent and angiogenesis associated diseases, such as neural crest-derived tumors, utilizing the alpha and beta isoforms of neu differentiation factor (NDF) which have the following effects: 1) prevention of blood vessel formation, 2) induction of differentiation of neuroblastoma cells, which prevents proliferation and stops tumor growth, and 3) induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in neuroblastoma cells, which further inhibits tumor growth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting angiogenesis within a tissue by providing exogenous PEDF to cells associated with the tissue. The presence of exogenous PEDF inhibits angiogenesis within the tissue, in part by interfering with the ability of vascular endothelia to expand within the tissue. The invention also provides a method for determining the severity of a tumor be assaying for the presence of PEDF within the tumor. To facilitate the inventive methods, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including sources of PEDF.

Abstract: The present invention relates to transgenic knockout animal models null for pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). The present invention also provides methods for generating animal disease models and screening methods for identifying biologically active compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inhibiting angiogenesis within a tissue by providing exogenous PEDF to cells associated with the tissue. The presence of exogenous PEDF inhibits angiogenesis within the tissue, in part by interfering with the ability of vascular endothelia to expand within the tissue. The invention also provides a method for determining the severity of a tumor by assaying for the presence of PEDF within the tumor. The invention further provides a method of inhibiting endothelial cell migration, a method of stimulating the growth of hair in a mammal, a method for inhibiting the growth of a tumor, a method of inducing differentiation of a neuroblastoma cell, a method of slowing the growth of a neuroblastoma cell, and method of treating ischemic retinopathy in a mammal. To facilitate the inventive methods, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions including sources of PEDF.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating Wilms' tumor in a mammal by providing exogenous PEDF. The invention further provides a method of determining the severity of Wilms' tumor by assaying for the presence of PEDF within a tumor removed from tissue afflicted by Wilms' tumor. The invention provides a method of treating prostate cancer in a mammal by providing exogenous PEDF. PEDF may be provided in conjunction with another antiangiogenic factor or within a composition. The invention further provides a method of determining the severity of prostate cancer by assaying for the presence of PEDF within a cancerous prostate tumor. Also provided by the invention is a method of inducing differentiation in a prostate epithelial cell by administering PEDF to the cells.