Agonists of PXR increased hepatocyte viability and protected them from staurosporine-induced apoptosis via the induction of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl in human and rat hepatocytes. PXR agonists protected HepG2 human hepatoma cells from Fas-induced apoptosis via Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl induction. Here, FAS is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.