Previous studies have shown that in vitro culturing of hepG2 hepatoma cell lines resulted in decreased NUF2 expression and cell cycle proteins such as, cyclins B1, Cdc25A and Cdc2, but expression of apoptosis-associated proteins (such as Bad and Bax) was significantly increased, thus inducing cells, inhibiting cell cycle and apoptosis, thereby inhibiting cell growth. The gene discussed is BAX; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.