Other studies have revealed that MUC1 cytoplasmic tail can bind directly to pro-apoptotic proteins Bax or caspase-8 and regulate growth in HCC cells (SMMC-7721 cells) through Bax-mediated mitochondrial and caspase-8-mediated death receptor apoptotic pathways [114]. Here, MUC1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.