VEGFA and cancer: With pancreatic tumorigenesis, quiescent pancreatic stellate cells are activated by various cytokines secreted by cancer cells or other stromal cells, such as sonic hedgehog (shh), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor β (TGFβ1), and transform into myofibroblast-like cells with increased abilities to synthesize and secrete matrix and certain cell growth factors (Dunér et al., 2011; Karger et al., 2008).