Adrenomedullin is a cross-talk molecule that regulates tumor and mast cell function during human carcinogenesis.

We have previously demonstrated that adrenomedullin (AM) plays a critical role as an autocrine/paracrine tumor cell survival factor. We now present evidence that AM is an important regulator of mast cell (MC) function and that this modulation is potentially involved in tumor promotion. AM induced histamine or beta-hexosaminidase release from rat and human MCs through a receptor-independent pathway.