Induction of tubulogenesis of microvascular endothelial cells by basic fibroblast growth factor from human SN12C renal cancer cells.

PURPOSE

To investigate the role of basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) in angiogenesis in renal cell carcinoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We examined b-FGF expression in 25 patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We measured the tube formation by human omental microvascular endothelial (HOME) cells induced by b-FGF in a three-dimensional collagen gel in the absence or presence of SN12C human renal cancer cells by means of computer-image analysis.

RESULTS

RT-PCR analysis detected b-FGF m-RNA in 20 (80%) of 25 patients with RCC. The tube formation of HOME cells was increased in the presence of SN12C cells overexpressing b-FGF mRNA, induced by exogenous b-FGF in a dose dependent manner and completely inhibited by anti-b-FGF antibody.

CONCLUSIONS

Basic-FGF may develop tumor angiogenesis by inducing microvessel tubulogenesis in patients with RCC.