Among them, the transcription factor p53 is activated by several established cytotoxic drugs and mediates a number of different effects in tumor cells including gene regulation, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.15, 16 As several proteins mediating or regulating TRAIL-induced apoptosis are p53 target genes, for example, TRAIL receptor 2 (death receptor 5, DR5), p53-mediated gene regulation is suggested to be the main mechanism for mediating synergistic apoptosis of cytotoxic drugs and TRAIL.6, 9, 14, 17. This evidence concerns the gene TP53 and neoplasm.