In addition to expressing common vascular endothelial markers,TECs also show upregulated expression of VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, e-selectin, ICAM-1, CD44, integrin and MUC-18 (63) and the nontraditional angiogenic factors biglycan, lysyl oxidase and pentraxin 3, which together promote tumor angiogenesis (64). The gene discussed is CD44; the disease is neoplasm.