In human anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and glioma cells, capsaicin-induced Ca2+ influx through TRPV1 has been shown to initiate p38 MAPK signaling and mitochondrial apoptosis, effects abrogated by TRPV1 antagonists (173). Here, TRPV1 is linked to thyroid gland undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma.