Several studies have reported that ASK can induce apoptosis in different cancer cells and exhibit antitumour activities against oral squamous cells, melanoma cells and colorectal cells.19, 20, 21, 22 Our previous study showed that ASK can inhibit the proliferation of human chronic myelogenous leukaemia K562 cells and induce apoptosis by blocking NF‐κB signalling and depleting Bcr‐Abl.32 This evidence concerns the gene ABL1 and melanoma.