Adrenomedullin is a potent vasodilator that is expressed in breast cancer cells, upregulated by hypoxia in these cells, and has been shown to stimulate angiogenesis and tumour proliferation.112, 113, 114 Breast cancer cells overexpressing adrenomedullin show lower levels of various apoptotic factors (e.g., Bax, Bid, caspase 8) and murine models of breast cancer with adrenomedullin overexpression have accelerated bone metastasis and lower rates of survival.114. This evidence concerns the gene BAX and breast carcinoma.