[9] TRAIL has also been designated CD253 (cluster of differentiation 253) and TNFSF10 (tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, member 10).

[7] In humans, the gene that encodes TRAIL is located at chromosome 3q26, which is not close to other TNF family members.

The TRAIL gene lacks TATA and CAAT boxes and the promoter region contains putative response elements for transcription factors GATA, AP-1, C/EBP, SP-1, OCT-1, AP3, PEA3, CF-1, and ISRE.

In cells expressing DcR2, TRAIL binding therefore activates NFkappaB, leading to transcription of genes known to antagonize the death signaling pathway and/or to promote inflammation.

[12][13] In clinical trials only a small proportion of cancer patients responded to various drugs that targeted TRAIL death receptors.

Many cancer cell lines develop resistance to TRAIL and limits the efficacy of TRAIL-based therapies.