Given the overexpression of Bcl-xL protein in more than 60% of human colon cancers (Krajewska et al, 1996; Maurer et al, 1998) and its positive correlation with poor prognosis (Biroccio et al, 2001), we hypothesised that downregulation by Bcl-xL by AS oligonucleotides may sensitise colon cancer cells to IR or cisplatin. The gene discussed is BCL2L1; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.