BCL2L1 and cancer: Furthermore, the same authors found that it significantly reduced levels of pro-cancer proteins, those involved in proliferation cyclin D1, metastasis COX-2 (cyclooxygenase 2), angiogenesis VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), and apoptosis inhibitors bcl-2, bcl-xL, IAP-1, IAP-2 (inhibitor of apoptosis 1 and 2), and surviving [46].