In conclusion, our data showed that PLAB induced mitotic arrest in U87 glioblastoma cells and consequently induced caspase-dependent apoptosis via up-regulation of p53 and Bax, down-regulation of Bcl-2 with release of cytochrome c and cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP and caspase-independent apoptosis through AIF. Here, GDF15 is linked to glioblastoma.