Western blotting showed that EP cleaved PARP and caspase 8/3 without affecting caspase 9, attenuated the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins such as c-FLIP, Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 as well as activated the expression of proapoptotic protein Bax, FADD and DR 5 in a concentration dependent manner in DU 145 prostate cancer cells, strongly demonstrating death receptor dependent apoptosis by EP in DU 145 prostate cancer cells. The gene discussed is BCL2; the disease is prostate carcinoma.