It was postulated that some tumours may produce high levels of EGFR ligands (TGF-α, EGF), thus stimulating EGFR expression in tumour-associated endothelial cells and setting up a paracrine endothelial cell survival signalling pathway that is sensitive to inhibitors of EGFR signalling (Weber et al, 2003). This evidence concerns the gene TGFA and neoplasm.