KDR and neoplasm: Additionally, the lack of association between VEGF expression and histopathological features in our study may also be due to the minimal role of VEGF-A in autocrine signaling as a result of reduced expression of VEGFR2 (the major VEGF-A receptor) by the tumor cells [82], or partly due to increased secretion of other angiogenic factors such as fibroblast growth factor, which contributes to tumor growth [83].