Examines differences in the level of market orientation between firms of different sizes and relates market orientation to the perceived market structure and the degree of planning control from corporate headquarters. A survey of UK firms shows that medium‐sized firms adopt a market orientation to a lesser extent than large and extra‐large firms; and there are no differences in the level of market orientation between large and extra large firms. Despite the different market orientation, there is no difference in the perceived market structure between firms of different sizes. Extra‐large firms are exposed to a higher degree of planning from the corporate headquarters than medium‐sized and large firms, but the degree does not seem to be so high as to affect their market orientation and discusses managerial implications.

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The chemokine receptor CXCR4 plays an important role in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Our previous studies showed that Nordy, a synthetic chiral compound of nordihydroguaiaretic acid, inhibited the growth and angiogenesis of various malignant tumors. In this study we examined the capacity of Nordy to regulate CXCR4-mediated production of angiogenic factors by human glioblastoma cells. We found that Nordy potently inhibited CXCR4 ligand SDF-1-induced production of IL-8 and vascular endothelial cell growth factor, two important angiogenic factors implicated in the progression of malignant tumors. Further study revealed that the effect of Nordy was attributable to its down-regulation of the expression of functional CXCR4 in glioblastoma cells. These results suggest that the anti-cancer activity of Nordy is due, at least in part, to its suppression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 thus reducing the production of angiogenic factors by tumor cells.