Thus, we sought to develop a DIRAS3-derived peptide that could inhibit the Beclin1:DIRAS3 interaction necessary for the induction of autophagy, permitting us to test the hypothesis that inhibition of the Beclin1:DIRAS3 interaction would inhibit autophagy required for cancer cell survival and eliminate dormant ovarian tumors that express DIRAS3 and are undergoing autophagy in nutrient poor nodules on the surface of the peritoneum. The gene discussed is BECN1; the disease is cancer.