These cytokines can bind to TNFR1 on the surfaces of tumour cells to activate the necrosis or apoptosis pathways in tumour cells and induce tumour cell death.5, 7 The TNF‐α‐ and TNFR1‐associated TNFR1‐ASK1‐AIP1‐JNK pathway caught our attention.16, 20, 26 The study of Dyari et al20 showed that stimulation of the TNF receptor‐1/ASK1/JNK pathway in ovarian cancer using a ω‐3 17,18‐epoxy‐eicosatetraenoic acid analogue significantly promoted cancer cell apoptosis. This evidence concerns the gene MAP3K5 and cancer.