Expression of ER stress and autophagy-related molecules in human non-small cell lung cancer and premalignant lesions.

Stress that impairs endoplasmic reticulum (ER) function leads to an accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins in the ER (ER stress). Autophagy is a lysosomal pathway involved in the turnover of cellular macromolecules and organelles, which emerging data indicate that ER stress is also a potent inducer of autophagy. ER stress and autophagy are involved in human cancer.