Neuropilin-1 and placental growth factor as prognostic factors in metastatic breast cancer.

"Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participateThe Ethics Committee of Tampere University Hospital approved the original phase II clinical trial protocol (R08142M). The trial identifier is NCT00979641. All the patients that participated in the study gave their written informed consent. Consent for publicationNot applicable. Competing interestsN.M. has received funding (grants) from Tampere University Hospital. L.T., M.T., P.K. and A.J. participated in an industry-sponsored clinical trial supported by Roche. P.K. is a member in an advisory board for Roche. A.J. is a member in an advisory board for Lilly. O.L. reports being consultant for Herantis Pharma. P.V. has received research funding from Eschner´s Foundation, consulting or advisory honoraria from Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ipsen, Novartis, and Roche, speakers’ bureau honoraria from Merck, Roche, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. M.H., T.L., P-L.K-L. and E.M. have no conflict of interests to declare. Competing interests N.M. has received funding (grants) from Tampere University Hospital. L.T., M.T., P.K. and A.J. participated in an industry-sponsored clinical trial supported by Roche. P.K. is a member in an advisory board for Roche. A.J. is a member in an advisory board for Lilly. O.L. reports being consultant for Herantis Pharma. P.V. has received research funding from Eschner´s Foundation, consulting or advisory honoraria from Merck, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ipsen, Novartis, and Roche, speakers’ bureau honoraria from Merck, Roche, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. M.H., T.L., P-L.K-L. and E.M. have no conflict of interests to declare."

"Funding The original phase II trial and a part of VEGF family laboratory analysis were financially supported by Roche Inc. This study was also partly supported by the Competitive State Research Financing of the Expert Responsibility area of Tampere University Hospital. Open access funding provided by Tampere University (including Tampere University Hospital)."

"Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00979641, registration date 18/09/2009. The regional Ethics Committee: R08142M, registration date 18/11/2008."