In fact, VEGF was initially discovered as a tumor-secreted factor that strongly promotes microvascular permeability named ‘vascular permeability factor’ (Senger et al., 1983) before its subsequent identification as an endothelial mitogen essential for the development of blood vessels (Carmeliet et al., 1996; Ferrara et al., 1996; Leung et al., 1989; Nasevicius et al., 2000). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is neoplasm.