HMOX1 and lung cancer: Increased HO-1 expression has been reported in various types of human malignancy, including hepatoma, lung cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, melanoma, Kaposi sarcoma, and pancreatic cancer.[7] To date, many researchers have suggested that HO-1 is closely related with tumorigenesis, such as antiapoptosis, cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, and that it can be a potential cancer therapeutic target.