Here we show that the effects of the WNT/β-catenin pathway differ vastly in melanoma depending on PTEN expression levels; when PTEN levels are high, β-catenin signaling reduces metastasis, inhibits mitophagy and reduces the bioenergetic status of the cells (none of this occurs in melanoma cells with depleted PTEN levels). The gene discussed is PTEN; the disease is melanoma.