Whereas it remains to be determined how these compounds initiate activation of the intrinsic pathway and induce alteration of survivin and XIAP leading to sensitization of tumor cells to TRAIL-induced cell death, our results support the idea that marine-derived secondary metabolites are likely to provide novel pharmacologically active drugs, whose discovery and development may lead to therapeutic paradigm changes in oncology, or beyond, for human diseases ranging from auto-immunity to neurodegeneration. This evidence concerns the gene BIRC5 and neoplasm.