CASP3 and pancreatic insulinoma: Previous studies have established that either ASK1 deletion or expression of a dominant-negative ASK1 isoform protects from ER-stress and staurosporine-induced caspase 3 activation and beta-cell apoptosis in insulinoma cells and islets thereby supporting a pivotal role of ASK1 in beta-cell apoptosis in response to stressors [32], [33].