Significantly higher numbers of the endothelial cells (both the EPCs45- and the EPCs45+), and higher serum levels of the VEGF protein were found in patients with CRC liver metastases in comparison to the cancer-free individuals (X2 = 7.18, P < .001 for EPCs and X2 = 9.17, P < .001 for VEGF). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is cancer.