In glioma cells, disabling eEF2K (siRNA-mediated depletion of eEF2K or the inhibitor NH125) sensitized cells to TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), i.e., increased apoptosis, and reduced expression of the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL), but not other anti-apoptotic proteins like myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1), X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) or survivin, although this effect was only apparent at the highest doses of TRAIL. Here, XIAP is linked to glioma.