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Table 1
Comparison of expression data for VEGF-B, VEGF-C and VEGF-D with previously published reports
VEGF family member	Own data		Published data
	Δ expression		Δ expression	Sampling method	Other confounders	Refs
	Resection	Biopsy	Δ expression	Sampling method	Other confounders	Refs
VEGF-B	=	↗ ***	=	Resection	-	[5]
			=	Resection	Rectal incl.	[7]
			=	Resection	Rectal incl.	[8]
VEGF-C	↗ *	↗ ***	=	Resection	-	[5]
			↗	n.s.	Rectal incl.	[6]
			↗	Resection	Rectal incl.	[7]
			=	Resection	Rectal incl.	[8]
			=	Biopsy	Rectal incl.	[14]
VEGF-D	↘ ***	=	↘	n.s.	Rectal incl.	[6]
			↘	Resection	Rectal incl.	[7]
			↘	Resection	Rectal incl.	[8]
			↘	Biopsy	Rectal incl.	[14]

Δ expression: differential expression in carcinoma samples compared to healthy tissue samples.

↗: significantly increased.

↘: significantly decreased.

=: no significance.

n.s.: not specified.

Rectal incl.: rectal samples included in the analysis.

*: p<0.05 with Wilcoxon signed rank test.

***: p<0.001 with Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Pringels et al. BMC Cancer 2012 12:515 doi:10.1186/1471-2407-12-515

Table 1