Since the HSN cell line does not proliferate in response to in vitro bFGF or grow more rapidly in vivo on exposure to bFGF (Mathur et al, 1999), it is most likely that the bFGF-related tumour vascularity response was independent of tumour type – for example deriving from a bFGF effect on host endothelial cells. The gene discussed is FGF2; the disease is neoplasm.