TP53 and malignant colon neoplasm: Furthermore, gene silencing of p53 completely abrogated leptin-induced LC3II protein expression both in HepG2 (Fig. 6C), MCF-7 cells (Fig. 6D) and colon cancer HCT 116 cells (Fig. 6E), suggesting a critical role of p53 signaling in leptin-induced autophagy induction.