Combination of LC3 shRNA plasmid transfection and GST treatment caused the highest mitochondrial release of cytochrome c into the cytosol leading to activation of the final executioner caspase-3 that fragmented the DNA repair enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), fulfilling a pre-requisite of DNA fragmentation for apoptotic death in both malignant neuroblastoma cell lines. Here, CYCS is linked to neuroblastoma.