In addition, the identification of APAF1 as a direct target of miR21 and APAF1 as a mediator of miR21 for conferring chemoresistance in ovarian cancer suggests that strategies based on the upregulation of APAF1 in ovarian cancer cells can be used to sensitize ovarian cancer cells to paclitaxel treatment. This evidence concerns the gene APAF1 and ovarian carcinoma.