Because cervical cancer cells are capable of undergoing caspase-dependent apoptosis (27, 28), the caspase activation we observed in SHetA2-treated cells could be contributing, but not required, for SHetA2-induced cell death, because the SHetA2-induced mitophagy and nuclear relocation of AIF could be compensating for the inhibition of caspase activity (Figure 10). This evidence concerns the gene AIFM1 and cervical carcinoma.