VEGFA and malignant colon neoplasm: Our results showed that EMPs increased in colon cancer patient stage II/III/IV but not in stage I. This may due to enhanced tumor spread and angiogenesis in higher-grade colon cancer compared with stage I. The major mediators of tumor angiogenesis are the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family and its receptors, which have been reported to be closely involved in colon cancer stage II/III/IV [41–43].