Knockdown of RelA significantly suppressed the elevation in BECN1 and MAP1LC3 expression and the ratio of MAP1LC3-II/I in the cells exposed to LPLI (Fig 3C and 3D), suggesting that LPLI may trigger ROS production and activate RelA, thereby turning on BECN1 expression and inducing autophagy in oral cancer cells. Here, RELA is linked to lip and oral cavity carcinoma.