Beclin‑1 expression is associated with prognosis in a Bcl‑2‑dependent manner in non‑small cell lung cancer

Du,Hailei; Chen,Ling; Luo,Fangxiu; Chen,Xueyu; Li,Yong; Cheng,Qijian

doi:10.3892/ol.2020.11870

Beclin‑1 expression is associated with prognosis in a Bcl‑2‑dependent manner in non‑small cell lung cancer

Authors:
- Hailei Du
- Ling Chen
- Fangxiu Luo
- Xueyu Chen
- Yong Li
- Qijian Cheng
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Affiliations: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital North, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201821, P.R. China, Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital North, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201821, P.R. China
Published online on: July 15, 2020 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2020.11870
Article Number: 9

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Abstract

Beclin‑1 and Bcl‑2 expression abnormalities have been confirmed in different types of cancer. As important regulators of autophagy and apoptosis, respectively, these molecules serve a complex role in tumorigenesis. However, limited information is currently available regarding the association between Beclin‑1 and Bcl‑2 in (NSCLC). In the present study, the expression levels of Beclin‑1 and Bcl‑2 were detected in lung cancer tissues, and their prognostic significance was analyzed for NSCLC. A total of 120 patients with lung cancer who underwent surgical resection were included in the present study. Beclin‑1 and Bcl‑2 expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry and their associations with the overall survival (OS) in patients with NSCLC was examined. The expression rate of Beclin‑1 was significantly lower in NSCLC tissues compared with that in adjacent tissues, whereas the expression rate of Bcl‑2 was significantly higher in lung cancer tissues compared with that in adjacent tissues. Additionally, Beclin‑1 and Bcl‑2 protein expression was strongly associated (P<0.05) in NSCLC. Patients with NSCLC with low Beclin‑1 expression were in more advanced stages, with more lymph node metastasis and more poorly differentiated tumors. Similarly, patients with NSCLC with high Bcl‑2 expression were also in a more advanced stage and had more lymph node metastasis. Cox regression analysis revealed that the association between Bcl‑2 expression and survival was not significant, while a multivariate analysis revealed that Beclin‑1 expression was significantly associated with OS. Notably, Beclin‑1 expression was significantly associated with OS only in patients with high Bcl‑2 expression. In conclusion, the present data indicated that the autophagy activity is decreased in NSCLC. Beclin‑1 expression was downregulated, while Bcl‑2 expression was upregulated in NSCLC tissues compared with that in adjacent tissues. Additionally, these two proteins were associated with the occurrence and progression of NSCLC. Beclin‑1 may be a promising prognostic marker for patients with NSCLC with high Bcl‑2 expression. The present findings provided a more accurate prognostic assessment for patients with NSCLC. Furthermore, they may be used to actively follow‑up and promptly treat patients with a poor prognosis, which may benefit a greater number of patients with NSCLC.

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