Basic fibroblast growth factor and the complexity of tumour angiogenesis

Intrinsic biochemical properties of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) do not adequately explain its potent pro-angiogenic activity. In vivo, bFGF can act in concert with other modulators of angiogenesis, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). It is suggested that due to the complexity of angiogenic growth factor networks the process may be regulated in a non-linear fashion.