Therefore, the aim of this study was to dissect the role of transcription targets of p53, p21CIP/WAF-1 (cell cycle regulation) [10] and Bax (pro-apoptotic multidomain Bcl-2 family member) [11], in cell death induced by the individual components of the multimodal neoadjuvant therapy applied in treatment of rectal cancer, i.e. 5-fluoruracil (5-FU), ionising γ-radiation (IR), and heat shock. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is rectal cancer.