At the molecular level, in agreement with our previous reports17,18, the MKK3 silencing functional effects correlated with a decrease in the late autophagosome marker p62/SQSTM1 levels (Fig. 2b) and an increased LC3II/LC3I ratio (Fig. 2c), indicating that, in line with our previous report17, triggering of sustained autophagy is responsible for the growth impairment in MKK3 depletion-sensitive CRC sublines. This evidence concerns the gene SQSTM1 and colorectal carcinoma.