CTBP1 and non-small cell lung carcinoma: While we previously reported that nicotine enhances VEGF signaling in NSCLC by acting positively via the α7nAChR and β-Ars, leading to increased cell survival and decreased apoptosis [21], more recently, we found that lactoferrin-induced activation of caspase-3 increased by inhibiting the function of VEGF in A549 and H1299 cells [36].