The human VEGF family consists of 5 related glycoproteins: VEGFA, VEGFB, VEGFC, VEGFD, and PIGF (placental growth factor). These are secreted to form homodimers, which interact with a family of 3 receptor tyrosine kinases: VEGFR1 (VEGF receptor 1), VEGFR2, and VEGFR3. VEGFA and VEGFB bind to VEGFR1, VEGFA binds to VEGFR2, and VEGFC and VEGFD bind to both VEGFR2 and VEGFR3. VEGFA is a potent regulator of neovascularization that contributes to tumor growth and metastasis via its receptors VEGFR1/Flt-1, VEGFR2/KDR, and VEGFR3. This gene is upregulated in many known tumors and its expression is correlated with tumor stage and progression. Elevated levels of this protein are found in patients with POEMS syndrome, also known as Crow-Fukase syndrome. Allelic variants of this gene have been associated with microvascular complications of diabetes 1 (MVCD1) and atherosclerosis. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been described. There is also evidence for alternative translation initiation from upstream non-AUG (CUG) codons resulting in additional isoforms.