RIPK1 and central nervous system cancer: U118 cells treated with edelfosine primarily undergo necroptosis, involving RIPK1 and RIPK3 (Fig. 9, upper), and inhibition of this necrotic response results in an increase in caspase-dependent apoptosis (Fig. 9, lower), thus highlighting the potent pro-cell death signaling triggered by edelfosine in this glioma cell line.