To further investigate whether miR-216b could affect BC progression, the cellular expression patterns of Beclin1, Bax, Bcl-2, LC3 and MMP-9 were determined following activation or depletion of miR-216b, or silencing of HK2. As depicted in Fig. 6A, B, the mRNA expression of Beclin1, Bax and LC3, protein expression of Beclin1 and Bax and ratio of LC3 II/I were significantly elevated by miR-216b mimic or siHK2 transfection, while that of Bcl-2 and MMP-9 was markedly down-regulated (p < 0.05); and these trends could be reversed following treatment with miR-216b inhibitor (p < 0.05). This evidence concerns the gene BECN1 and breast cancer.