The HCC control group showed a significant downregulation in hepatic caspase-3 and Bax mRNA expression (P < 0.05) accompanied by a significant upregulation in the Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 mRNA expression (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively). The gene discussed is BCL2L1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.