Although the regulatory crosstalk and interference in the endogenous AhR-autophagy-EMT signalling node is complicated, our study highlights the specific role of BNIP3 in AhR-regulated autophagy without activation by extrinsic factors, revealed the mechanism of this crosstalk, and reflected the basal function and potential of autophagy in the presence of AhR protein with respect to physiological implications related to NSCLC. This evidence concerns the gene BNIP3 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.