It suppresses the expression of cyclin D1, which is deregulated in several types of tumor, and it also induces apoptosis in tumor cells by activating caspase-8, which leads to cleavage of Bid, thus resulting in sequential release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) and apoptosis of tumor cells. The gene discussed is CASP8; the disease is neoplasm.