The secretion of immunosuppressive factors by tumors and tumor-infiltrating leukocytes including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), Tregs, and tumor-associated macrophages/neutrophils has been shown to curb the development, survival (e.g., VEGF, IL-6, PGE2), and function (eg. TGF-β, IL-10) of cross-presenting DCs and render them tolerogenic (10, 11). The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is neoplasm.