Normal colonocytes have previously been reported to be relatively resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis compared to colorectal carcinoma cells: normal human colonic epithelial cells did not undergo apoptosis in response to 0.1 μg ml−1 TRAIL, but COLO205 colon carcinoma cells were sensitive to this concentration (Sträter et al, 2002b). Here, TNFSF10 is linked to colon carcinoma.