---
title: "What is VEGF and what does it do in angiogenesis?"
url: "https://worldwiki.io/q/what-is-vegf-and-what-does-it-do-in-angiogenesis"
type: "question"
language: "en"
intent: "informational"
entity: "Angiogenesis"
topic: "SVF & Adipose-derived Cells"
published: "2026-09-18 07:10:23"
updated: "2026-10-08 09:18:06"
---

# What is VEGF and what does it do in angiogenesis?

## Short answer

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a signaling protein. Its main form, VEGF-A, is the principal signal that switches angiogenesis on. Cells that are short of oxygen release it, and it draws new vessels toward the tissue that needs them. Losing half of normal VEGF-A is fatal to the embryo. Drugs that block VEGF, such as bevacizumab and anti-VEGF eye injections, are used in some cancers and in wet macular degeneration.

## Answer

For the biology, see [2]. For the drug that binds VEGF-A, see [3]. For the use of anti-VEGF injections in wet AMD, see [5].

### Stem cells in cosmetic surgery

In cosmetic surgery, "stem cell" procedures almost always use [adipose-derived stem cells](/entity/adipose-derived-stem-cell). The stromal vascular fraction (SVF), which contains them, is separated from liposuctioned fat and mixed into the fat being grafted, as in [stem cell breast augmentation](/entity/stem-cell-breast-augmentation) and [stem cell fat grafting](/entity/stem-cell-fat-grafting).

## Related questions

- [Why do tumors need angiogenesis?](https://worldwiki.io/q/why-do-tumors-need-angiogenesis)
- [What are the side effects of angiogenesis inhibitors?](https://worldwiki.io/q/what-are-the-side-effects-of-angiogenesis-inhibitors)
- [What is the difference between angiogenesis and vasculogenesis?](https://worldwiki.io/q/what-is-the-difference-between-angiogenesis-and-vasculogenesis)
- [Do stem cells improve fat graft survival through angiogenesis?](https://worldwiki.io/q/do-stem-cells-improve-fat-graft-survival-through-angiogenesis)

## Sources

1. [Angiogenesis Inhibitors (fact sheet)](https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/immunotherapy/angiogenesis-inhibitors-fact-sheet) — National Cancer Institute · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/146
2. [Overview of Angiogenesis (in: Adair TH, Montani JP. Angiogenesis)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK53238/) — Morgan & Claypool Life Sciences / NCBI Bookshelf · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/147
3. [Bevacizumab (StatPearls)](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482126/) — StatPearls Publishing / NCBI Bookshelf · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/148
4. [Tumor Angiogenesis (editorial), Dudek AZ, Gupta K, Ramakrishnan S, Mukhopadhyay D. Journal of Oncology](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2945670/) — Journal of Oncology (Hindawi) · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/149
5. [Treatments for Wet AMD (Advanced Neovascular AMD)](https://www.nei.nih.gov/eye-health-information/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration/treatments-wet-amd-advanced-neovascular-amd) — National Eye Institute (NIH) · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/150
6. [Therapeutic Angiogenesis for Peripheral Artery Disease: Lessons Learned in Translational Science, Iyer SR, Annex BH](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5802410/) — JACC: Basic to Translational Science · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/151
7. [Cell-Assisted Lipotransfer for Cosmetic Breast Augmentation: Supportive Use of Adipose-Derived Stem/Stromal Cells, Yoshimura K et al.](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2175019/) — Aesthetic Plastic Surgery · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/152
8. [Adipose-Derived Stem Cell, Stromal Vascular Fraction, and Regenerative Cell Enrichment in Fat Grafting: A Systematic Review of Safety and Functional Outcomes](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12812246/) — Cureus (PubMed Central) · evidence page: https://worldwiki.io/source/145