RESEARCH o s

Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OSCC) is the most prevalent cancer in males of the Indian sub-continent and is predominantly associated with the tobacco-chewing habit [1]. Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality in oral cancer aiding in tumor size reduction and preservation of oral function [2]. Despite advances in radiotherapy techniques, OSCC patients frequently develop loco-regional recurrence resulting in 5-year survival rates that have remained unchanged for past few decades [3]. Hence for successful radiotherapy, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms involved in the development of radiation resistance in tumor cells. Anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family are the key regulators of cellular apoptosis and their over ex-pression has been shown to be associated with radio-resistance [4,5]. Mcl-1 (Myeloid cell leukemia-1), an * Correspondence