We showed that the activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3 was reduced in DUSP16-expressing NPC HK-1, CRC DLD-1, gastric cancer Nugc3, and breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells (Fig. 4A–D, Supplementary Figs. 2D, 3C-E, and 4C-D), which was associated with reduced cytochrome c release in response to chemotherapeutic agents. Here, CASP9 is linked to breast cancer.