VEGFA and leukemia: We have previously reported that aplidine inhibited the secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by the human leukaemia MOLT-4 cells, leading to blockage of the VEGF/VEGFR-1 autocrine loop that regulated MOLT-4 cell proliferation (Fusetti et al, 2000; Marchini et al, 2002; Broggini et al, 2003).