Since in TFAM knockdown tumor cells, the reduced LC3-II levels were accompanied by decreased expression of p53 and PISD and together with the results that p53/PISD signaling positively contributed to autophagy, we inferred that the attenuated autophagy in TFAM knockdown cells was at least partially attributed to decreased p53 expression and its influence on the transcription of PISD. Here, TP53 is linked to neoplasm.