Expression of beclin 1 in non-small cell lung cancer: an immunohistochemical study.
BACKGROUND
Cigarette smoking causes a variety of adverse human health effects, including lung cancer. The molecular events associated with smoke-induced carcinogenesis are thought to be related in part to autophagy. Beclin 1 is an important autophagy-related protein involved in cell death and cell survival.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this investigation was to determine the beclin 1 protein and its association with cigarette smoke and the mutation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Our study included 108 cases of non-small cell lung cancer who were admitted in our hospital. The beclin 1 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry and EGFR mutation by direct sequencing.


RESULTS
Beclin 1 expression could be detected in 15 (13.9%) of 108 specimens. These studies investigated that beclin 1 expression was associated with heavy smoking, the gender and the histological type of NSCLC (P = 0.023, 0.035 and 0.039). No association of beclin 1 with EGFR mutation was found (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results from these experiments indicate that heavy smoking may induce the beclin 1 protein in NSCLC.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Lv
Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Jing-jing
JJ
Han
Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Ye-qing
YQ
Liu
Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Li-li
LL
Wang
Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Qiong-lan
QL
Tang
Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Qing
Q
Sun
Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Hai-gang
HG
Li
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071186:Beclin-1; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D018773:Genes, erbB-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491997:BECN1 protein, human; D000071186:Beclin-1; D008565:Membrane Proteins
EGFR mutation; beclin 1; heavy smoking; non-small cell lung cancer