A tiny tumor (pink) is positioned near an existing blood vessel. The tumor is sending molecular signals to the blood vessel where they dock to receptors on accessory endothelial cells that are part of the vessel. This causes the endothelial (blood vessel) cells to sprout small new blood vessels, called microcapillaries, that are seen reaching out to the tumor.

A network of microcapillaries has penetrated the tumor and is feeding it with oxygen and nutrients - the tumor grows. The new microcapillaries are immature and poorly organized. There are holes in their structure that tumor cells can be seen burrowing into so as to access the general circulation and colonize a distant part of the body. Tumor angiogenesis is the root cause of tumor metastasis - they are essentially one and the same process.

Ångstrom's non-toxic drug, Å6, shown as white triangles, blocks the receptor and prevents it switching on the sprouts. This inhibition of tumor angiogenesis prevents the formation of new microcapillaries. The result is induction of tumor apoptosis (tumor cell death) - the tumor cells, starved of a blood supply, are dying, as shown, ultimately causing collapse of the tumor. In essence, choking off the tumor's blood supply gives the tumor no choice except to commit suicide.

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