Beclin-1 does NOT predict which outcome?

• A. Disease-free interval
• B. Overall survival
• C. Time to progression
• D. Response rate

Answer: (A)

Beclin-1, linked to autophagy, often reflects how tumor cells respond to stress and therapy. In studies, its expression can align with better overall survival and longer time to progression, and it may correlate with higher response rates to treatment in some cancers. However, disease-free interval—the time after achieving remission before the cancer returns—depends more on residual microscopic disease and post-remission factors such as adjuvant therapy and surveillance. Those influences can override what Beclin-1 status tells us about baseline tumor biology, so Beclin-1 does not reliably predict disease-free interval, even as it may be informative for survival, progression, or response.