Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the p53 tumour suppressor and key mediators of cell-cycle arrest (p21, p27) and apoptosis (Bcl-2, apoptosis protease-activating factor-1 (APAF-1)) are among the immunohistochemical protein markers currently of interest as potential predictors of pathologic response, prognosis and recurrence-free survival in rectal cancer following neoadjuvant therapy (Giralt et al, 2005, 2007; Lopez-Crapez et al, 2005; Kim et al, 2006; Lin et al, 2006; Smith et al, 2006; Bertolini et al, 2007). This evidence concerns the gene APAF1 and rectal cancer.