STC1 and neoplasm: In support of this, low oxygen is associated with increased STC‐1 gene expression in a number of pathological situations including cerebral ischemia26 and carcinogenesis27, 28, 29 and heart failure.5 Using a human tumor cell line, both low oxygen and the chemical induction of hypoxia, using either desferoxamine or cobalt chloride, also increased STC‐1 gene expression.30 Culturing BeWo cells in 1% O2 did not increase the secretion of STC‐1.