Tumor cells respond to such threats by up-modulation of ER stress regulators like BCL-2, HIF-1α, PARP-1, HSP27, HO-1 and PON2, all molecules shown to be up-modulated in tumor cells upon the addition of hCG in this study; hCG also enhanced levels of IAPs such as SURVIVIN, cIAP-1 and XIAP, known contributors to chemo-resistance. Here, HMOX1 is linked to neoplasm.