ACTA1 and digestive system neoplasm: In conclusion, the MVD association with VEGF and α-SMA expression, might indicate an increase of the number of both neoformed and preexisting blood vessels, either uniformly or partially covered by pericytes in different regions of GITC, suggesting that not only MVD and VEGF are important parameters to the tumor vasculature, but also blood vessels maturation is a crucial factor for gastrointestinal tumor angiogenesis regulation and vascular therapy.