Description

Cancers that can express VEGF (Vascular endothelial growth factor) are able to grow and metastasize. Solid cancers cannot grow beyond a limited size without an adequate blood supply. VEGF is a sub-family of growth factors, specifically, the platelet-derived growth factor family of cystine-knot growth factors. They are important signaling proteins involved in both vasculogenesis (the de novo formation of the embryonic circulatory system) and angiogenesis (the growth of blood vessels from pre-existing vasculature).