Increased tumour vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression is associated with a poor prognosis (Paley et al, 1997) supporting the role of angiogenesis in the progression of this disease, in vivo neutralisation of VEGF with antisera has been shown to inhibit tumour growth and ascites (Olson et al, 1996). Here, VEGFA is linked to neoplasm.