“…The selective effects of FGF-2 and VEGF on endothelial cells have been described to regulate cell proliferation (Goto et al, 1993), integrin expression and function (Senger et al, 1996), metalloproteinase activators (Mandriota and Pepper, 1997;Pepper et al, 1991Pepper et al, , 1998, matrix-dependent adhesion and migration (Senger et al, 1996), cell permeability and cell-cell junction alterations (Dellian et al, 1996;Hippenstiel et al, 1998), and morphogenic differentiation and vascular lumen formation (Pepper et al, 1992). FGF-2 is a growth factor that activates a proliferative response in many cell types in addition to endothelial cells, including stromal and tissue fibroblasts (Berger et al, 1999;Ittman and Mansukhani, 1997;Sumitomo et al, 1999;Yoshimura et al, 1998). The role of FGF-2 in promoting a stromal response in relation to tumor angiogenesis has not been addressed to date.…”