Although the previous many studies showed that EGCG induced growth arrest and apoptosis in human head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines, mitochondrial apoptogenic factors in the cell death of a human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma of the larynx Hep2 cells by EGCG treatment have yet to be elucidated. The present study was undertaken to demonstrate the effects of caspases on the relationship between the release of mitochondrial pro-apoptotic molecules in Hep2 cells by EGCG treatment