Differential regulation of a fibroblast growth factor-binding protein during skin carcinogenesis and wound healing.

The initiation of premalignant lesions is associated with subtle cellular and gene expression changes. Here we describe a severe combined immunodeficiency mouse xenograft model with human adult skin and compare chemical carcinogenesis and wound healing. We focus on a secreted binding protein for fibroblast growth factors (FGF-BP) that enhances the activity of locally stored FGFs and is expressed at high levels in human epithelial cancers.