For further in vitro characterization of APC/tumor cell interactions, we induced proapoptotic signaling in tumor cells by exposure to recombinant TNF-α in combination with a small molecule SMAC (second mitochondrial-derived activator of caspases) mimetic, followed by the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD (collectively referred to as TSZ) to skew cell death signaling towards necroptosis. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is neoplasm.