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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Monitoring Functionality and Morphology of Vasculature Recruited by Factors Secreted by Fast-growing Tumor-generating Cells
09:03

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Published on: November 23, 2014

A secreted FGF-binding protein can serve as the angiogenic switch in human cancer

F Czubayko1, E D Liaudet-Coopman, A Aigner

  • 1Lombardi Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007, USA.

Nature Medicine
|October 23, 1997
PubMed

Insights

Fibroblast growth factor-binding protein (FGF-BP) acts as an angiogenic switch in tumors. Reducing FGF-BP in cancer cells inhibits tumor growth and angiogenesis, suggesting it

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Tumor angiogenesis drives cancer growth and metastasis.
  • Identifying key angiogenic factors is crucial for therapeutic development.
  • Fibroblast growth factor-binding protein (FGF-BP) mobilizes local fibroblast growth factors (FGFs).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate FGF-BP's role as an angiogenic switch molecule in tumors.
  • To determine if FGF-BP upregulation in tumors contributes to angiogenesis and metastasis.
  • To assess the therapeutic potential of targeting FGF-BP.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated FGF-BP gene expression in skin tumors, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and colon cancer.
  • Used ribozymes to deplete endogenous FGF-BP in human SCC and colon carcinoma cell lines.
  • Assessed the impact of FGF-BP reduction on basic FGF (bFGF) release and xenograft tumor growth and angiogenesis in mice.

Main Results:

  • FGF-BP gene is upregulated in carcinogen-induced skin tumors, SCC, and some colon cancers.
  • Reduction of FGF-BP decreased the release of biologically active bFGF from cancer cells.
  • Depletion of FGF-BP significantly reduced xenograft tumor growth and angiogenesis in mice.

Conclusions:

  • FGF-BP functions as an angiogenic switch molecule in human tumors.
  • Targeting FGF-BP may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis.
  • The findings highlight the critical role of FGF-BP in tumor angiogenesis.

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