Schematically, the genes found altered in ovarian cancer that have an impact on autophagy belong to: (1) the oncosuppressors PTEN, ARHI and p53, that regulate autophagy, apoptosis and dormancy; (2) the components of the autophagy machinery LC3, beclin-1 and DRAM; (3) the growth factor and nutrient sensor signaling pathways, which include the class I PI3-k/Akt/mTOR and the Ras/Raf/ERK pathways. The gene discussed is PTEN; the disease is ovarian cancer.