Oleocanthal has already been shown to induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis in vitro in human acute promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells, myeloma ARH-77 cells and murine myeloma MOPC-31C, to cause G1 arrest in ARH-77 cells and to promote their apoptosis by the activation of caspase-9/-3. The gene discussed is CASP9; the disease is acute promyelocytic leukemia.