The antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of TIC10 on glioma lines are synergized when combined with ABT263 (a BH3-mimetic and Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL inhibitor); such effects are independent on the activity of caspase-8 and DR5, but dependent on Mcl-1 degradation and on downregulation of Bag3 and the deubiquitinase Usp9X, which allows the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway by the pro-apoptotic proteins BAK and Bax. This evidence concerns the gene MCL1 and central nervous system cancer.