Our results showed that PKM2 could promote pancreatic cancer progression (Figures 2c–g), which was similar with previous studies of other cancer types such as non-small cell lung carcinoma, myeloma and gastric cancer.7, 32, 33 Our data also revealed that PKM2 knockdown inhibited autophagy in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo (Figures 3d, 5g and Supplementary Figures S2a–d). This evidence concerns the gene PKM and non-small cell lung carcinoma.