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.
Aim
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).
Material and methodology
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).
Conclusion
The results from these experiments indicate that heavy smoking may induce the beclin 1 protein in NSCLC.