With regard to VEGF expression (Berney et al, 1998; Ishigami et al, 1998; Tokunaga et al, 1998; Cascinu et al, 2000; Lee et al, 2000; Maeda et al, 2000), no differences were observed between DFS and OS in patients with high or low VEGF-expressing tumours. Here, VEGFA is linked to neoplasm.