In this study, we provide clear evidence that breast cancer cells exhibit an accumulation of autophagosomes and increased autophagosome-lysosome fusion upon HNK treatment initiating cytoprotective autophagy as inhibiting autophagy with 3-MA or Baf or knockout of BECN1 and ATG7 potentiates HNK-mediated growth inhibition and apoptotic induction. The gene discussed is BECN1; the disease is breast cancer.