We found a sustained increase in Bcl-2, Beclin-1, ATG5,LC-3 and p-AktSer473 associated with decreased expression of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 during progression of normal epithelium through hyperplasia, dysplasia and well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the hamster buccal pouch. This evidence concerns the gene MAP1LC3A and squamous cell carcinoma.