BAX and acute myeloid leukemia: After treatment with CdTe QDs, AML 12 cells showed an increase in ROS generation and apoptosis, with a concomitant increase in the gene expression of tumor suppressor gene p53 and pro-apoptotic gene Bcl-2, as well as a decrease in the anti-apoptosis gene expression Bax, suggesting that a mitochondria-mediated pathway is involved in CdTe QD-induced apoptosis.