In contrast to the present finding for subjects with advanced HCC who had received no prior systemic therapy, results from a phase II study of sunitinib in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) indicated that relatively low (< median) levels of VEGF-C at baseline were associated with achievement of response (RECIST) and with longer progression-free survival [39]. Here, VEGFC is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.