In particular, in APL cells, re-establishment of the autophagic flux via WWP1 silencing is responsible for myeloid maturation of leukemic blasts expressing oncoproteins that are sensitive to autophagy-dependent proteolysis (e.g. PML-RARalpha and FLT3/ITD) (Fig. 3). The gene discussed is PML; the disease is acute promyelocytic leukemia.