Proteins involved in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis, such as hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), VEGF, MDK, pleiotrophin, urokinase, lactoferrin and tumour necrosis factor‐alpha inducing protein (Tipα), interact with surface NCL, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis and a target for therapeutic intervention.37 This evidence concerns the gene VEGFA and cancer.