Cytotoxicity of troglitazone through PPARγ-independent pathway and p38 MAPK pathway in renal cell carcinoma

► Troglitazone induced apoptosis in human renal cell carcinoma cell lines. ► It was not dependent on PPARγ. ► The p38 MAPK pathway was involved in the cytotoxicity. ► The G2/M cell cycle arrest was induced through activation of p38 MAPK.