ATG7 and colorectal carcinoma: Our data indicate that Atg7 plays a unique role within the autophagic machinery of CRC cells: i) Atg7 was found to be upregulated in CRC specimens ii) Atg7 exerts a cell death preventing function in CRC, since its loss induced apoptosis iii) Cell death in the absence of Atg7 strictly depended on nuclear trafficking of LC3 iv) The efficacy of standard chemotherapy against CRC cells was augmented by inhibiting Atg7.