To explore potential mechanisms underlying the resistance of most of the gliomas to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, we surveyed minimally passaged gliomas for the expression of the TRAIL pathway components DR4 (TRAIL-R1), DR5 (TRAIL-R2), FADD and caspase-8, along with potential modulators of TRAIL signalling (cFLIP and XIAP) (Figure 7A–7D). The gene discussed is CASP8; the disease is central nervous system cancer.