BNIP3 and cancer: Interestingly, while BNIP3 levels are elevated in several cancer types [11], studies have reported a decrease in BNIP3 expression in colon cancer, which results in a failure of tumor cells to undergo cell death [12].Phosphatase and tensin homolog‐induced kinase 1 (PINK1) is a putative kinase that contributes to mitochondrial stabilization and quality control [13].