Loncaster and colleagues6 reported a significant association of VEGF expression in cervical cancer biopsies with overall survival (p=0·0008) and metastasis-free survival (p=0·0062), but not with local control (p=0·23), in a group of 100 patients with bulky stage Ib–IIIb tumours treated by radical radiotherapy. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is cervical cancer.