Immunostaining of HCC cells in xenografts revealed higher expression of LC3 and a decreased of TUNEL-positive tumor cells in group of Huh-7 with THP-1 derived macrophages (TUNEL-positive cells per hpf: 28.8 ± 8.6 vs. 11.4 ± 4.7; P = 0.004), partially suggesting that macrophages co-implantation can induce autophagy in vivo to avoid apoptosis induced by oxaliplatin (Fig. 5c, d). This evidence concerns the gene MAP1LC3A and neoplasm.