Background:

FGF-10 belongs to the subgroup of FGFs that also includes FGF-3, -7, and -22. FGF-10 is secreted by mesenchymal cells and associates with extracellular FGF-BP. It preferentially binds and activates epithelial cell FGF R2 (IIIb) and interacts more weakly with FGF R1 (IIIb) [1]. The expression and function of FGF-10 are negatively regulated by Shh and BMP-4 in the developing lung [2, 3]. Overlapping expression patterns and activities with FGF-3, -7, and -8 suggest at least a partial redundancy in FGF?10 biology. FGF-10 induced signaling through FGF R2 (IIIb) also contributes to the progression of pancreatic cancer [4] .