The growth inhibition of human lung cancer cells mediated by D. calcarata extracts appears to be associated with apoptosis and G0/G1 and S-phase cell cycle arrest and altered expression of the tumour suppressor and anti-apoptotic genes p53 and Bcl-2, cancer-related genes, especially those that are involved in both cell cycle (p21, CLB1 and CDC2) and transcriptional factors, such as STATs. This evidence concerns the gene TP53 and lung carcinoma.