ATF4 and cancer: Moreover, tumor cells secrete blood vessel growth promoting factor, which positively regulates this process.31 Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is an effective endothelial cell-specific regulator of angiogenesis that influences tumor growth and metastasis.32 It has been shown that ATF4 can regulate VEGFA transcription under ER stress in cancer cells.33 Our results found that Vegfa was located in the cytoplasm in mouse tongue specimens.