Overexpression of CD44 has also been shown to promote resistance to etoposide-induced apoptosis by alteration of levels of caspase 9, caspase 3, Bcl-xl, and Bak, down-regulation of pRB, and phosphorylation of AKT in colon cancer [39]. This evidence concerns the gene BCL2L1 and malignant colon neoplasm.