To summarize our findings, we demonstrate that: (1) TDP-43 expression is required for tumor progression; (2) TDP-43 modulates autophagy in starved cells, which is in charge of tumor survival under nutrient deprivation; (3) increased stability sustains TDP-43 expression in starved cells; (4) HDAC6 expression mediates anti-apoptotic function of TDP-43. The gene discussed is TARDBP; the disease is neoplasm.