Fibroblast growth factors/fibroblast growth factor receptors as targets for the development of anti-angiogenesis strategies.

Angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation from pre-existing ones, plays a key role in various physiological and pathological conditions, including embryonic development, wound repair, inflammation, and tumor growth. The 1980s saw for the first time the identification, purification, and sequencing of the two prototypic heparin-binding angiogenic fibroblast growth factors (FGF) 1 and 2. Since then, 22 structurally-related members of the FGF family and different classes of FGF receptors have been identified. Several experimental evidences point to a role for various FGFs in the neovascularization process that takes place in inflammation, angioproliferative diseases, and tumor growth. Thus, the FGF/FGF receptor system represents a target for the development of anti-angiogenic therapies. Purpose of this review is to summarize the different modalities that have been approached to impair the pro-angiogenic activity of the FGF/FGF receptor system and discuss their possible therapeutic implications.