We have previously found that NTHi-induced COPD-like airway inflammation upregulates HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression in the whole lung of a K-ras mutant mouse model of lung cancer (CC-LR or CCSPCre/LSL–KrasG12D mouse) [23]. Here, KRAS is linked to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.