Treatment of melanoma cells with statin enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis due to suppression of the NF-κB and STAT3-transcriptional targets (including COX-2) and downregulation of cFLIP-L (a caspase-8 inhibitor) protein levels. Moreover, co-treatment with sodium arsenite and TRAIL or simvastatin and TRAIL efficiently induced apoptotic commitment in human neuroblastoma cells. The gene discussed is CASP8; the disease is neuroblastoma.