FGF2 and benign neoplasm: These include the fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), which reduces ischemia-induced myocardial apoptosis through the increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, as well as secreted factors angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which have been shown to increase vascular density and blood flow in the ischemic heart (80).