Inhibition of eEF-2 kinase sensitizes human glioma cells to TRAIL and down-regulates Bcl-xL expression

► Inhibiting eEF-2 kinase sensitizes human glioma cells to TRAIL therapy. ► The enhanced sensitivity to TRAIL is accompanied by down-regulation of Bcl-xL. ► Overexpression of Bcl-xL can abrogate this sensitizing effect on TRAIL. ► Targeting eEF-2 kinase may represent a new adjuvant therapy with TRAIL.