Acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) is present in the fluid of brain tumour pseudocysts.

Fluid samples from brain tumour pseudocysts were examined for the presence of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF). Fluids were collected from 6 patients with differentiated low grade gliomas (group A), 3 anaplastic gliomas (group B) and 3 metastases (group C). For FGF assays pooled fluids from group A, B, and C were subjected to affinity chromatography on a Heparin-Sepharose column. Each pool contained endothelial cell mitogenic activity which eluted in the 1.2 M NaCl fraction and to a lesser degree in the 0.6 M fraction of Heparin-Sepharose high affinity chromatography. Mitogenic activity in the 1.2 M NaCl fraction of Heparin-Sepharose chromatography suggests the presence of acidic FGF (aFGF).