Caspase 9, an important player in the initiation of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, is frequently phosphorylated at Thr125 by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, leading to inhibition of caspase 9 activation and caspase 9-mediated apoptosis in gastric carcinoma [166]. This evidence concerns the gene CASP9 and gastric carcinoma.