The transcriptional activity of genes involved in the autophagy process (LAMP-2, BECN1, PINK1, FOXO1) in colorectal cancer biopsies in four clinical stages of adenocarcinoma (CSI, CSII, CSIII, CSIV) was compared with that of controls (colon samples assessed as histopathologically normal). The gene discussed is BECN1; the disease is colorectal cancer.