Pre-incubation with z-DEVD-fmk 30 μM for 1 h completely inhibited PT-induced Caspase 3 activity upregulation and abolished PT-induced cell death in NSCLC cells, suggesting that the PT-induced cell apoptosis is Caspase 3-dependent (P < 0.05, Supplementary Figure 2B); however, z-DEVD-fmk 30 μM alone did not affect cell viability and Caspase 3 activity compared with the control group (P > 0.05). This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.