Using the GFP-LC3 reporter to track autophagy and an inducible Uvrag mutant mouse model, we demonstrated that the cancer-derived dominant negative mutant of UVRAG blocks starvation-induced autophagy because Dox-induced iUVRAGFS mice accumulated fewer autophagosomes upon starvation and displayed reduced rates of autophagic flux. Here, MAP1LC3A is linked to cancer.