Inhibition of fibroblast growth factors

The potential roles of members of the fibroblast growth factor family in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis and their mechanisms of release from cells are discussed. Furthermore, we review methods of therapeutic targeting of these polypeptides. In particular, we focus on the possibility to inhibit fibroblast growth factors with drugs that mimic heparin-like cellular binding sites and thus can interfere with growth factor receptor recognition. In addition, we discuss antibodies, antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, and ribozymes as approaches to inhibit production and activity of these growth factors.