The proliferation of tumor cells is regulated by a complex array of signaling pathways, among these signaling pathways, the programmed cell death. Autophagy and apoptosis are two types of programmed death. There are significant differences in their morphological and functional features, but they also have many links. Both apoptosis and autophagy are involved in activation, expression and regulation of a series of genes. By reviewing the research progress in recent years, this article will discuss the cellular regulation and molecular mechanisms of their related genes. Through summarizing the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis, it aims to get a better understanding of the mechanisms of autophagy and apoptosis in tumor progression, and looking at the perspectives for studies on the autophagy and apoptosis in tumor treatment.