Thus, VEGF-C plays a dual role in promoting breast cancer progression: a stimulation of lymphangiogenesis and thereby lymphatic metastasis (Saharinen et al, 2004; Timoshenko et al, 2006; Tobler and Detmar, 2006), and a direct action on cancer cells in stimulating cellular migratory function. The gene discussed is VEGFC; the disease is breast carcinoma.