BAX and cholangiocarcinoma: Moreover, both agents induced cellular apoptosis by upregulating the pro-apoptotic marker BAX and downregulating the anti-apoptotic markers MCL1 and BCL2. Atorvastatin also significantly decreased the mRNA expression of the TEAD target genes CTGF, CYR61, ANKRD1, and MFAP5 in both CCA cell lines.