Recent studies have found that LCN2 expression significantly elevates VEGF levels by inducing hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1α) expression through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) pathway in both MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and an angiogenic line derived from MDA-MB-436 cells (42). The gene discussed is LCN2; the disease is breast cancer.