The novel finding in this study is that co-treatment with BEZ235 and TSA potently induces autophagy in breast cancer cells while inhibiting cell growth and initiating apoptosis, evidenced by the detection of increased protein levels of LC3B-II and Beclin1 and punctate staining of FITC-LC3B bound in autophagosomes. This evidence concerns the gene BECN1 and breast cancer.