With respect to chemo-resistance to cisplatin in melanoma cells, the role of A-SMase in the modulation of apoptosis and autophagy (also induced by cisplatin) led us to hypothesise that low A-SMase, as occurs in more aggressive cells [38], result in a loss of chemotherapy response through both the inhibition of apoptosis and the activation of autophagy. Here, SMPD1 is linked to melanoma.