Hypoxia-induced autophagy contributes to the invasion of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma through the HIF-1α/BNIP3 signaling pathway.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is one of the most common types of salivary gland malignancy in the head and neck, and its aggressive ability to invade and metastasize is an important reason for its poor survival rates. Our previous investigations confirmed that autophagy‑associated gene expression is closely associated with the occurrence and development of ACC. On this basis, the present study further investigated hypoxia‑induced autophagy and its role in tumor invasion. Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) was used to mimic hypoxia. The results of the present study indicated that autophagosome formation and upregulation of autophagy‑associated microtubule‑associated protein 1 light chain 3 and Beclin 1 were observed in ACC‑M cells in response to CoCl2. The hypoxia‑inducible factor 1α/B cell lymphoma 2/adenovirus E1B 19K‑interacting protein 3 signaling pathway was involved in hypoxia‑induced autophagy in ACC. Furthermore, inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine markedly attenuated the tumor invasion induced by mimetic hypoxia in ACC. These results suggested that hypoxia‑induced autophagy may serve as a potential target for the future treatment of ACC.