Compared with other NSCLC histology patients, those with squamous disease had a significantly higher bFGF at baseline (median bFGF with squamous histology was 31.5 pg  ml−1 (range 3.3–143.1) compared with 6.9 pg ml−1 (range 0.0–112.5) with other NSCLC histology (P=0.022)), and a suggestion of a higher VEGF (median VEGF with squamous histology was 265.7 pg ml−1 (range 50.2–1360.8) compared with 141.2 pg ml−1 (range 31.3–761.9) with other NSCLC histology (P=0.07)). This evidence concerns the gene FGF2 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.