BCL2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: After Bclaf1 knockout, Bcl-2 expression was downregulated, Bax expression was increased, and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was decreased versus the control findings (p < 0.01), indicating that mitochondrial apoptosis was induced in human hepatoma cells after Bclaf1 knockout (Figures 5D, E).