Bcl‐2/E1B‐nineteen kilodalton interacting protein (BNIP3) plays an important role in the hypoxia‐induced autophagic death of cancer cells.27, 28 The mechanism by which hypoxia stimulates the expression of BNIP3 most likely involves the direct activation of HIF‐1α.29 MAC upregulated BNIP3 expression in a time‐dependent manner (Figure 5B). This evidence concerns the gene BNIP3 and cancer.