Whereas the essential extrinsic apoptosis adaptor Fas-associated protein with death domain (FADD) was slightly upregulated in SCLC, potentially facilitating non-apoptotic gene induction42,43, the downstream essential effector caspase 8 was strongly downregulated in ~80% of SCLC specimens (Fig. 1e), suggesting the extrinsic apoptosis pathway to be incapacitated prior to therapy. The gene discussed is FADD; the disease is small cell lung carcinoma.