Our data strongly suggest that the reduction of c-FLIP expression represents the main mechanism of synergy between Poly(I:C) and paclitaxel, as (a) paclitaxel pre-treatment reduced the expression of c-FLIP, but not cIAPs, which correlated with the sensitization to Poly(I:C) cytotoxicity in cancer cells, (b) c-FLIP overexpression abolished this synergy, and (c) cancer cell death remained strictly apoptotic. The gene discussed is CFLAR; the disease is cancer.