To investigate whether a partial or lacking susceptibility of tumor cells to programmed necrosis can be enhanced with stronger sensitization (i.e. higher CHX concentrations), the cell lines CCRF-CEM, MKN-28, SK-OV-3, KNS-62, Pt45P1 and SK-MEL-28 were incubated with their respective lethal dose (LD)50 concentrations of CHX alone or in combination with zVAD-fmk and TRAIL (or TNF), employing viability assays as an alternative readout. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is neoplasm.