If the magnitude of autophagy may determine the fate of Tzb-treated HER2-positive breast cancer cells (i.e. macroautophagy is fully induced as a survival mode but fail to rescue Tzb-sensitive cells), the ability of HER2-positive breast cancer to switch Tzb-induced autophagy to a mechanism of tumor cell survival may further explain the degree of primary (inherent) resistance to Tzb. The gene discussed is ERBB2; the disease is breast carcinoma.