Overexpression of DUSP16 in cancer cells, including NPC, CRC, breast and gastric cancer cells, resulted in reduced cell death upon treatment with chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, fluorouracil (5-FU), and epirubicin in vitro and in vivo; whereas CRISP/Cas9-mediated knockout of DUSP16 in cancer cells led to an increased sensitivity to these drugs. The gene discussed is DUSP16; the disease is gastric cancer.