Here we investigated the potential prognostic value of the autophagy-related proteins Beclin-1, p62, LC3 and ULK1 in a cohort of CRC specimens with a focus on patients with an unfavourable outcome due to UICC stage III/IV CRC treated with chemotherapy and/or KRAS-mutated CRCs. This evidence concerns the gene ULK1 and colorectal carcinoma.