CASP3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Additionally, apoptotic pathway analysis revealed increased expression of apoptotic markers (Cytochrome C, PARP, cleaved PARP, Caspase-3, cleaved Caspase-3, Bax) and decreased anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2 in EGR1-knockdown cells (Figure S14H-I), indicating that EGR1 depletion promotes apoptosis in hepatoma cells.