Higher serum VEGF had a direct relationship with M-MDSC-s in NSCLC (r = 0.73, p < 0.001, Fig. 2a), but not in NSCLC+COPD patients, in whom this relationship became inverse (r = −0.65, p = 0.01, Fig. 2b). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.