CASP3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In the present investigation, we found that the expression of Apaf-1, cleaved caspase-9, cytochrome C, cleaved caspase-3 and PARP-1 were increased, but the expression of Bcl-2 was decreased, and the activity of caspase-3 was stimulated when HCC cells were treated with Rop.