Furthermore, we showed that reduced endogenous VEGF or VEGFR1 expression induced the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, whereas externally acting proteins (VEGF, VEGF antibody, soluble VEGFR1, and VEGFR1-blocking antibody) had no significant effects on breast cancer cell growth or survival. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is breast cancer.