Therapeutic Neovascularization - Quo vadis?

The volume "Therapeutic Neovascularization: Quo Vadis?" picks up the current refinements in fundamental concept of neovascularization, which in the future might pave the way towards a new era of therapeutic applications. §It meets an at times urgent need for treatment of patients who otherwise are not suitable for the established routines of percutaneous and surgical revascularization. At present most of the clinical trials initiated to promote neovascularization of ischemic myocardial or peripheral muscle tissue have failed to provide significant improvement of prespecified endpoints. This collection of manuscripts is selected to provide the most recent developments improving the auspices of successful revascularization therapy. Therefore, it covers sections such as the clinical challenge, novel mechanical and molecular concepts and cell therapy as an option, each composed of chapters written by experts in their fields.§This collection of current and future concepts of neovascularization offers fascinating insights into refining a powerful therapeutic tool which has not yet had the chance to live up to the expectations and needs of the medical community. Indeed, the scientific modifications of a fundamentally sound concept will enable its applicability in the not so distant future. The condensed collection of current views on neovascularization is intended to speed up this process.