Objective       To detect the expression of Beclin 1 and microtubule associated protein light 1 chain 3 (LC3) in parotid tumor.       Methods       Clinical data of 98 cases who admitted in our hospital from 2001 to 2009 were collected in this study. The collected tissue samples included 20 cases of normal parotid gland

37 cases of parotid pleomorphic adenoma and 41 cases of carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma. The expression of Beclin 1 and LC3 were assessed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. The correlation of Beclin 1 and LC3 expression with the clinicopathologic characteristics of the carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma were analyzed.       Results       The positive rates of Beclin 1 and LC3 was highly in normal parotid gland (1.045±0.002 and 0.779±0.047)

moderately in parotid pleomorphic adenoma (0.419±0.051

0.243±0.023; P0.05 vs normal tissue)

and mildly in carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma (0.173±0.008

0.051±0.010

P0.05 vs normal tissue). The expression of Beclin 1 showed significant difference with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage (P0.05). The invasive of the tumor and lymph node metastasis showed significant difference with the LC3 expression (P0.05).       Conclusion       The expression of LC3 and Beclin 1 are down-regulated in parotid pleomorphic adenoma and carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma. The changes of autophagic capacity may be related to the development of parotid gland tumor.