In summary, our data demonstrate that: (a) RACK1 expression is progressively increased during the colonic epithelial carcinogenesis, and is positively correlated with malignant degree and lymph node metastasis of colon cancer, and negatively correlated with the patient survival; (b) RACK1 enhances tumorigenicity of colon cancer cells; (c) RACK1 promotes autophagy of colon cancer cells; (d) RACK1-induced autophagy increases colon cancer cell proliferation and inhibits colon cancer cell apoptosis. The gene discussed is RACK1; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.