To further confirm this finding, we stimulated HDMECs with several pro-angiogenic factors that have been reported to be secreted by NSCLC cells, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). 14. The gene discussed is EGF; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.