In consistence with above-mentioned study, we found that the decreased cytosolic Ca2+ level attenuates TNFα-induced cell apoptosis, whereas the increased cytosolic Ca2+ sensitizes HCC cells to TNFα-induced apoptosis, strongly suggesting that TNFα-induced apoptosis may be positively correlated with the level of extracellular Ca2+ influx in HCC cells. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.