Previously, human endothelial cells were presumed to have a stimulatory effect on lymphangiogenesis based solely on their ability to express activated VEGF-C and stimulate LECs in vitro [33], while mouse melanoma cells were considered to be only slightly lymphangiogenic based on a lack of activated VEGF-C production in vitro and minimal stimulation of lymphangiogenesis in vivo in murine studies of melanoma [34]. Here, VEGFC is linked to melanoma.