A composition combining an extracellular matrix-degrading protease and a growth factor related to epithelial cell functions together without inactivation or degradation of the growth factor by the protease. Preferably, the protease is plasmin/plasminogen or a related one, and the growth factor is KGF or a related one. The combination associates two independent, but synergistic functions essential to the re-epithelialization process or healing process, i.e, stimulating epithelial cell proliferation/differentiation and facilitating its migration by clearing the extracellular matrix components. The combination may be constructed in various ways and can be used to treat wounds or any other disease conditions involving cells of epithelial origin or any other cell types that the growth factor may affect.