Biomarkers investigated included, estrogen-receptor ER30, the ER pioneer proteins FOXA131–33 and GATA334–36, HER2 membrane expression37,38, the protein-membrane adhesion molecule and tumor suppressor E-cadherin39–41, epithelial growth factor receptor EGFR37,38, and the autophagy-related factor LC3A/B (MAP1L3A and MAP1L3B), an autophagy-related biomarker recently implicated to be strongly associated with breast cancer progression21–29. The gene discussed is MAP1LC3A; the disease is breast cancer.