Furthermore, ATG12 knockdown alleviated the aggressive phenotypes of CRC cells, as evidenced by the reduction of cell viability and increase of apoptotic rate and cleaved caspase 3 protein level in ATG12-depleted SW480 and HCT116 cells compared with siNC-transfected cells (Fig. 6e–i). Here, CASP3 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.