[Recent advances for research on anti-tumor effects of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand].

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis--inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of TNF family. TRAIL selectively induces apoptosis in a wide variety of tumor cells, but not most normal cells through binding to its receptors. The ability of TRAIL to induce apoptosis in a large number of tumors has stimulated interest in TRAIL as a tumor therapeutic agent.