As CPT-11 treatment resulted in an increase in TNFα intratumoural concentration and as AS602868 revealed the apoptotic potential of TNFα in HT-29 colon cancer cells as well as in Jurkat leukaemic cells (Frelin et al, 2003), this mechanism could also be involved in AS602868/CPT-11 antitumoural effect. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.