Since previous experiments indicated that SIRT1 inhibition induces apoptosis in the presence of Bax overexpression, we hypothesized that Bax accumulation mediated by HDAC inhibitors, compounded by sirtuin inhibition, could be a vital factor making leukemia cells especially susceptible to mitochondrial damage and subsequent apoptosis observed in response to these drugs. The gene discussed is SIRT1; the disease is leukemia.