VEGFA and breast cancer: VEGFA not only creates a vascular niche for expanding stem cells,21 it was recently shown to increase the stem-like cell population in certain human malignancies, including breast cancer.18, 19, 20, 22 Hypoxia, caused by angiogenesis inhibitors, stimulates VEGFA gene expression, and would thus contribute to CSC expansion74 and disease recurrence and progression.16, 17