MicroRNA-503 targets FGF2 and VEGFA and inhibits tumor angiogenesis and growth

► MiR-503 simultaneously down-regulates expression of FGF2 and VEGFA and inhibits tumor angiogenesis and growth. ► MiR-503 expression is dramatically down-regulated in tumors by epigenetic hypermethylation of its promoter/regulatory region. ► This study identifies a novel miRNA-based alternative mechanism by which hypoxia increases expression of FGF2 and VEGFA.