PGF and neoplasm: Clinical stage (HR (95% CI) 2.72 (1.46–5.19); p < 0.01), tumor size (HR (95% CI) 2.92 (1.54–5.73); p < 0.01) and PlGF expression (HR (95% CI) 0.41 (0.22–0.77); p < 0.01) were identified to be independent risk factors of prognosis (Fig. 1c).