Vascular endothelial growth factor (abbreviated vegf and pronounced "veg-f") is a peptide signaling molecule related to platelet-derived growth factor. vegf is important in the formation of the circulatory system because its signaling pathway causes the formation of blood vessels in developing embryos during normal development. tumors also produce and secrete vegf, causing nearby blood vessels to branch and grow to form new blood vessels that supply these tumors.

given what you know about the different kinds of cell signaling and vegf, which statement is true?

vegf is a paracrine signaling molecule because it binds to receptors on nearby cells, at the site where new blood vessels are needed.