Pemetrexed activates a caspase cascade reaction in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells. (A) Eca-109 and (B) EC9706 cells were treated with 0, 2.5, 5 or 10 µM pemetrexed and incubated for 36 h. Following treatment, whole-cell protein lysates (40 µg) were examined via western blot analysis. FL, full-length; CF, cleaved form; PEM, pemetrexed; PARP, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase; Casp, caspase.