BAX and neoplasm: Ever since the expression of both Bcl-2 and Bax is regulated by the p53 tumor-suppressor gene, certain forms of human B-cell lymphoma were concluded to have Bcl-2 overexpression.34 Cleaved-caspase-3 is a protein that interacts with caspase-8 and caspase-9 and plays a role in apoptosis.