Moreover, recently Jain's group has published significant evidences of the up-regulation of SDF1α, CXCR4, CXCL6 and neuropilin 1 after treatment with BV in just 12 rectal cancer patients (Xu et al, 2009), confirming the importance of small translational trial to identify a novel but ‘necessary and critical insight for guiding further therapy’ (Xu et al, 2009). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL12 and rectal cancer.