The inducible heat shock protein Hsp72 inhibits apoptosis and promotes long term survival after a number of stresses but the mechanism by which this is achieved remains unclear. A role for Hsp72 in modulating apoptosis mediated through members of the TNF-receptor super family other than TNF-R1 has not been clearly established. Given the observations of high levels of Hsp72 in tumours of poor prognosis, we set out to determine whether Hsp72 could specifically modulate apoptosis induced through the death receptor pathways mediated by Fas and the TRAIL receptors. Both these pathways are of relevance in tumour surveillance. (For complete abstract open document)