Based on Fig. 5, it can be deduced that LC3 expression can vary among the three CRC cell lines in response to different stresses and, more importantly, the induction of LC3 might be counteracted by oncolytic herpes infection except for HSV-HMGB1 infected HT29 cells during hypoxia; our findings are aligned with the previous study by Lussingol et al. which identified HSV1 US11 protein could inhibit autophagy by direct interaction with PKR [21]. Here, EIF2AK2 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.