MAP1LC3B and neoplasm: In this study, we aim to investigate the clinical significance of four autophagy pathway components (BECLIN, p62/, LC3b, ATG3) in pathogenetic mechanisms of thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) with possible prognostic importance.<h4>Methods</h4>Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the cytoplasmic expression of BECLIN, p62, LC3b, and ATG3 in tumor cells of 99 TETs, and possible correlations with clinicopathological parameters were examined.<h4>Results</h4>Higher BECLIN and p62 expression was associated with male gender (<i>p</i> = 0.027 and <i>p</i> = 0.014, respectively).