RIP3 expression is reduced or absent in a significant fraction of colon cancers (Supplementary Figure S6), and lung cancer cells,26 whereas activated caspase-3 levels, not caspase-3 expression,19, 27 were reported to be associated with poor prognosis in certain types of cancer.28 Therefore, targeting caspase-3 might be a novel approach to enhance the killing of RIP3-deficient cancer cells by DNA-damaging agents. This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and lung carcinoma.