The mean plasma VEGF concentration in the group of control subjects was 40 pg ml−1 compared to 91 pg ml−1 in the group of lung cancer patients (154 pg ml−1 in the NSCLC group and 69 pg ml−1 in the SCLC group), constituting a 2.3-fold higher concentration of VEGF in lung cancer patients overall. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is lung cancer.