Thus, in leiomyosarcoma cells combination therapy enhanced DXR-induced cleavage of caspase 8, 3 and PARP, which was evaluated by western-blotting analysis (Fig. 2C) as well as DXR-induced caspase 3 and 7 activities (activated caspase 3/7 increased from 100±0.7% in vehicle-treated cells to 247.5±15.0% (n = 4; P<0.001) upon treatment with DXR and 342.1±30.5% (n = 4; P<0.001 versus DXR-treated cells), 383.9±5.4% (n = 4; P<0.001 vs DXR-treated cells) and 412.9±20.7% (n = 4; P<0.001 versus DXR-treated cells) upon treatment with pre-nilotinib (2.5, 5 and 10 μM) plus DXR, respectively). This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and leiomyosarcoma.