title: The potential of Beclin 1 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beclin 1 plays a crucial role in autophagy via the Beclin 1 interactome, and is involved in various biological processes such as protein sorting, chemokinesis, and cell death. Via these biologic functions, Beclin 1 contributes to both tumor suppression and tumor progression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Beclin 1 plays a key biologic function on cell homeostasis and affects tumorigenesis. In this review, detailing up-to-date knowledge on the tumorigenic role of Beclin 1, its implication in breast cancer, and its utility as a breast cancer-specific drug target is discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because Beclin 1 is expressed in breast cancer cells, Beclin 1 could be a unique, effective drug target for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. However, the expression of Beclin 1 varies according to cancer molecular subtypes, and Beclin 1 is involved in both breast cancer suppression and tumor progression; therefore, the decision of using a Beclin 1 inducer or inhibitor should be made based on breast cancer stage and subtype.
authors.affiliation: a Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Department of Pathology , 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, South Korea ; kjs1976@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Yoon Yang
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: a Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Department of Pathology , 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, South Korea ; kjs1976@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Yu Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Yonsei University College of Medicine, Severance Hospital, Department of Pathology , 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, South Korea ; kjs1976@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Ja Seung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Koo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects; D000071186:Beclin-1; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C491997:BECN1 protein, human; D000071186:Beclin-1; D008565:Membrane Proteins
keywords: Beclin 1; autophagy; breast cancer; targeted drug therapy