In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cell line, K562, alantolactone treatment resulted in apoptosis induction by activating caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) as well as the reduction of MMP in these cancer cells. This evidence concerns the gene CASP3 and chronic myelogenous leukemia, BCR-ABL1 positive.