In this regard, our previous study in human lung cancer cells (A549) showed role of autocrine cytokines [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin-8 (IL-8), matrix metallo-protease-2 (MMP-2)] in the process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and associated metastatic features18, 19. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is lung cancer.