MCL1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In support of this, previous studies also identify that erianin upregulates Bim and Bax expression whereas downregulates Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 levels, leading to the activation of the intrinsic apoptosis signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, bladder cancer cells, nasopharyngeal cancer cells and osteosarcoma cells (13, 14, 16, 17).