NUPR1 and cancer: However, the degree of this proliferation block was lower than the reported effects in cancer cells.(20) The increase in LC3-II upon NUPR1 knockdown was consistent with a previous study reporting that NUPR1 is involved in the maintenance of the autolysosomal efflux in A549 cells and that NUPR1 depletion deregulates autophagic flux and impairs autolysosomal clearance.(21) In addition, it has been reported that NUPR1 depletion leads to massive cytoplasmic vacuolization and premature senescence.