However, imatinib treatment in cancer cells reduces expression of pro-survival factors including Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 (Brauer et al., 2007); Bcl-2 family proteins play a role in hair cell survival from known ototoxins such as aminoglycosides (Cunningham et al., 2004; Coffin et al., 2013). The gene discussed is BCL2; the disease is cancer.