It has already been demonstratedthat C2 ceramide, a known autophagy inductor, decreases theCD44+/CD24-/low cell subpopulation in breast cancer cells(MCF7) and larynx cancer cells (Hep-2), indicating that activation of thiscell-death pathway may be a mechanism to diminish the cancer-cell subpopulation thatis resistant to conventional therapy [34]. The gene discussed is CD24; the disease is breast carcinoma.