Previous reports showed that pimozide, as a STAT3 and STAT5 inhibitor, inhibited phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, thereby inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.43,44 When RAF1 was silenced, ERK 1/2 phosphorylation was subsequently inhibited, and apoptosis and autophagy were promoted in breast cancer cells, indicated that RAF1 signaling functions to regulate apoptosis and autophagy in breast cancer cells. The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is cancer.