BIRC6 and neoplasm: These findings, together with preliminary evidence concerning the possibility of sensitising tumour cells to apoptosis induced by some anticancer drugs through antisense oligonucleotide- or small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated downregulation of Apollon (Chen et al, 1999; Qiu et al, 2004; Chu et al, 2008), has led researchers to consider the gene as a possible new therapeutic target.