| Modification Notes |
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) represent a family of over 20 distinct proteins that are ubiquitously expressed in mammalian systems. FGFs are influential in development, adult tissue homeostasis, angiogenesis and cancer progression (1). Fibroblast growth factor binding protein, known as FGF-BP, is a secreted protein that binds FGF-1 and FGF-2 and is involved in mobilization and activation of FGFs from the extracellular matrix (ECM) (2,3). Normal adult human tissues have low levels of FGF-BP expression whereas its expression is significantly elevated in various tumors, including head, neck, skin, cervical, and lung squamous cell carcinomas (4). FGF-BP expression is up-regulated during early phases of tumorigenesis, indicating that the role of FGF-BP in angiogenesis is a critical early step in the development and progression of tumors (2). Decrease in the growth and angiogenesis of xenograft tumors in mice parallels a reduction in FGF-BP levels, suggesting that tumors can utilize FGF-BP as an angiogenic switch molecule (4,5). C/EBP and AP-1 are the main promoter elements required for activation of FGF-BP in response to serum and EGF, respectively (6). |
