CASP3 and prostate carcinoma: In addition to inducing the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic pathway mediated by Bcl-2 family proteins and the activation of effector caspases 3 and 6, and initiator caspase 9, Malik et al. also observed EA-mediated activation of caspase 8 in PC3 prostate cancer cells, which is considered essential for initiating the extrinsic, receptor-mediated pathway of apoptosis [179,180].