In total, six apoptotic factors were examined, including SAG, Noxa, SARM, Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, based on our earlier observations.11 Furthermore, consistent with recent findings in lung cancer,13 the antiapoptotic SAG protein in the HCC tissues was remarkably higher than that in the adjacent noncancerous hepatic tissues (P<0.01). The gene discussed is BCL2L1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.