Basic fibroblast growth factor and its relation to angiogenesis in normal and neoplastic tissue.

Basic fibroblast growth factor is a protein widely distributed in the organism. It can stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of many cells and it is extremely potent in inducing angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels. In this article, some of its structural and biological properties are reviewed. In particular, the possible implications of basic fibroblast growth factor in normal and tumor angiogenesis are considered.