However, a central role of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) has been demonstrated in tumour progression [5] and the ability to counteract oxidative stress has been related to the antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties of its metabolic products bilirubin [6], ferritin [7] and carbon monoxide [6, 8]. The gene discussed is HMOX1; the disease is neoplasm.