HMOX1 and cancer: Heme oxygenase-1 expression has been reported to enhance growth against apoptosis and induce angiogenesis through increase in angiogenic factor and VEGF in endothelial cells and cancer cells (Deramaudt et al, 1998; Doi et al, 1999; Kushida et al, 2002; Malaguarnera et al, 2002, 2003; Fang et al, 2003; Sunamura et al, 2003).