MiR-15a/16-1 inhibits cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis of cancer cells and suppresses tumorigenicity by targeting multiple oncogenes associated with short overall survival.MiR-15a/16-1 targets the proto-oncogene Bmi1, which directly regulates pro-apoptotic genes such as Bim and PMAIP1. MiR-15a/16-1 downregulation enhanced the anti-apoptotic potential of MCL. The gene discussed is BMI1; the disease is cancer.