Expression of VEGF (A) and bFGF (B) RNA in AML cells.

VEGF and bFGF expression was assayed by RT-PCR (see Methods) in AML cells freshly isolated from untreated patients and in HL-60 and U937 cells. Lane 1 = molecular weight (MW) marker; lanes 2 to 5 = AML patients; lane 6 = HL-60 cells; lane 7 = U937 cells. All samples expressed VEGF, whereas only 3 of 4 fresh samples and HL-60 cells expressed bFGF. Patient 4 had weaker VEGF expression than the others. Actin controls showed equal amounts of RNA (not shown). Negative controls without RNA and without reverse transcriptase were negative (not shown).