Ectopic expression of CUL4A in NSCLC cells dramatically enhances their resistance to apoptosis induced by doxorubicin or docetaxel, two commonly used chemotherapeutics, whereas suppressing CUL4A expression with shRNA markedly abrogated the ability of NSCLC cells to resist cytotoxic reagent-induced cell death. The gene discussed is CUL4A; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.