Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand is a type II membrane-bound protein whose C-terminal extracellular domain shows clear homology to other tumor necrosis factor family members. It is constitutively expressed on macrophages, T cells, natural killer cells, and dendritic cells and selectively kills transformed cells leaving most of the normal cells alone. This selectivity has led to great interest in it use as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of malignancy. In this

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... this critical pathway is described, highlighting its mechanistic manipulation for therapeutic benefit and the recent phase I and II trials in lung cancer that have been performed or are currently ongoing are also discussed. FIGURE 1. TRAIL induces apoptosis of transformed or malignant cells through both the intrinsic (mitochondrial) and extrinsic (death receptor/caspase) pathway. TRAIL, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand.