Autophagy induced in colorectal cancer cells in response to starvation, the dual PI3K-MTOR inhibitor PI-103, the metabolic drug DCA, or the autophagy-inducing peptide Tat-Beclin 1, was associated with increased levels of ChoPLs and a reduction in PCho as measured by 1H-MRS. This evidence concerns the gene BECN1 and colorectal cancer.