It is conceivable that Noxa may similarly activate autophagy triggered by oncogenic activation of MEK/ERK through displacement of Mcl-1 from beclin-1, and that a dynamic balance between the Mcl-1/Noxa and Mcl-1/beclin-1 complexes contributes to regulation of autophagy and apoptosis in melanoma cells, in particular, when cells are under stress conditions such as nutrient starvation. This evidence concerns the gene BECN1 and melanoma.