Expression levels of VEGFR-1 mRNA in stage III breast cancer patients (1.18 ± 3.97) were significantly higher than those of either stage I (0.12 ± 0.53; P <0.01) or stage II (0.12 ± 0.64; P <0.01) patients (Figure 2). The gene discussed is FLT1; the disease is breast carcinoma.