Data for gene expression profile in the rat liver (after exposure to 150 chemical compounds) are available from Open TG-GATES database generated from the Toxicogenomics Project of Japan. With the 150 chemical compounds, several carcinogenic agents induced the expression of p75-NTR associated cell death executor (NADE) in the liver. NADE is known as a pro-apoptotic protein and induces apoptosis by associating with a partner protein, including p75-NTR, hamartin, or Smac, under certain physiological conditions. However, none of these genes were induced in these cases. As NADE expression starts to increase as early as three days of exposure to the carcinogenic agents, NADE is a potential early marker for chemical carcinogenesis. To evaluate whether NADE can be a carcinogenic marker, we examined the role of NADE in the process of chemical carcinogenesis. In our study, Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with a genotoxic carcinogen, diethylnitrosamine, for up to 8 weeks followed by another 4 weeks of no treatment. The liver was excised to obtain RNA and protein samples and paraffin embedded tissue sections. The expression of NADE and some cancer markers was quantified by real time PCR. By immunohistochemistry and TUNEL assay, the expression pattern of NADE, some cancer markers was visualised and apoptosis was detected. The NADE expression correlated with development and growth of cancerous cells, but not with apoptosis. Here, we discuss the role of NADE expression in cancerous growth and apoptosis.