Moreover, HOTAIR depletion led to the reduction of cell viability (Fig. 2e, f), LC3 II/LC3 I ration (Fig. 2i) and Bcl-2 (anti-apoptosis protein) protein level (Fig. 2i), and increase of cell apoptotic rate (Fig. 2g, h) and protein levels of p62 (Fig. 2i), cleaved caspase 3 (Fig. 2i), and Bax (pro-apoptosis protein) (Fig. 2i) in SW480 and HCT116 cells, suggesting that HOTAIR knockdown impaired cell viability, induced cell apoptosis, and inhibited cell autophagy in CRC. Here, HOTAIR is linked to colorectal carcinoma.