VEGFA and metastatic colorectal cancer: Bevacizumab, which inhibits VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) signalling through inhibition of VEGF-A ligand binding, prolongs survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in both the first- and second-line settings when used in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy; however, observed responses are transient, with a median overall survival of 12.9 months for patients receiving second-line treatment and 23 months for those receiving first-line treatment (Kabbinavar et al, 2003; Hurwitz et al, 2004; Giantonio et al, 2007).