However, in all VEGFRs mRNA expression was higher in metastases than in related primary tumours (VEGFR-1: 2.39 ± 2.11 vs. 0.89 ± 0.56, P = 0.021; VEGFR-2: 2.44 ± 3.02 vs. 0.58 ± 0.26, P = 0.008; VEGFR-3: 2.54 ± 2.24 vs. 0.91 ± 0.51, P = 0.011; Fig. 4). This evidence concerns the gene FLT4 and neoplasm.