We therefore propose that the LCA-dependent activation of caspase-8 seen in BE(2)-m17 and SK-n-MCIXC cells (Fig. 7) could be responsible not only for the direct proteolytic activation of caspase-3 (Figs. 5A and 5B), but also for MOMP (perhaps, due to BID cleavage by caspase-8) and the resulting initiation of the intrinsic apoptotic death pathway observed in these NB cells (Figs. 3 and 4). This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and neuroblastoma.