As apoptosis is regulated by the balance of expression between pro-apoptotic and pro-survival proteins, we postulated that the magnitude of BIM induction and MCL-1 repression induced by BRAF inhibition may be insufficient to trigger apoptosis (BAX/BAK activation), if CRC cells express high levels of one or more pro-survival proteins. The gene discussed is BCL2L11; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.