To investigate the mechanisms underlying the inhibition of cancer cell growth by PLCSB, the expression of Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in HCT-116 human colon cancer cells was analyzed by RT-PCR and western blot analysis following incubation with 100, 200 or 400 μg/ml PLCSB for 48 h. The gene discussed is BCL2L1; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.