PDCD4 and hepatocellular carcinoma: PDCD4 over expression activates the pro-apoptotic member of Bcl2 protein family BAX followed by the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria and activation of caspases 8, 9, and 3, resulting in the induction of apoptosis in hepatoma cells, although the mechanism of BAX activation has not been elucidated [18].