Besides their essential roles in hemostasis, platelets also support cancer progression and metastatic development, through the production and excretion of platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF A and B), platelet-derived angiogenesis factors and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), as well as by interacting with interleukins and myeloid metalloproteins (25, 55). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is cancer.