Our primary data, which equals the largest previous study in terms of statistical power, found that low Bcl-2 expression was an independent predictor of improved prognosis in SCLC, which supports the hypothesis driving the study of the use of Bcl-2 antagonists in SCLC (Rudin et al, 2008; Shoemaker et al, 2008). The gene discussed is BCL2; the disease is small cell lung carcinoma.