Angiogenetic factors play an important role in the formation of new blood vessels involved in the growth and metastatic spread of solid tumors, but there is limited information regarding the clinical significance of serum bFGF levels in gastric cancer patients.Serum bFGF concentrations were measured by quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique in 30 controls and in 30 gastric cancer patients before surgery. The association between preoperative serum bFGF levels and clinical pathological features were evaluated.Preoperative serum bFGF levels in patients with gastric cancer were significantly higher than those in control patients (p=0.027). On the other hand; there is no relationship between serum bFGF levels and clinical-pathologic parameters in gastric cancer patients.Circulating bFGF might not be a marker suitable for assessing tumor progression (Tab. 1, Ref. 7). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.