Since many epithelial mitogens, including FGFs, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), bind to glycosaminoglycan chains of syndecans, it is speculated that syndecans store several growth factors within the tumour stroma and the accumulation of syndecans may contribute to the extensive angiogenesis and stromal proliferation. The gene discussed is HGF; the disease is neoplasm.