While no significative differences were observed in the levels of MMP-9 between control and açaí treated groups (Fig. 4c and f), the immunostaining of VEGF and its receptor VEGFR-2 reveals a substantial increase in the expression of these two proteins in the tumor stroma, as well as in the glandular compartment from control group samples (Fig. 4a and b). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is neoplasm.