BAX and colorectal carcinoma: Additionally, melatonin in combination with 5-FU elevated Bax expression as well as Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in CRC cells [97] and the phosphorylation of Bcl-2 and Bax; as members of the Bcl-2 family they participate in promoting the p53-mediated apoptosis in cancer [111, 112].