In summary, EP showed significant cytotoxicity in DU 145 prostate cancer cells, increased sub G1 population and TUNEL positive cells, activated the cleavages of PARP and caspase 8/3 and Bax, FADD, and DR 5, but attenuated the expression of survival genes such as c-FLIP, Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 in DU 145 prostate cancer cells. The gene discussed is CASP8; the disease is prostate carcinoma.