Lung cancer autophagy. Fluorescence light micrograph of lung cancer cells in a case of autophagy (autophagocytosis). This is the natural mechanism that destroys unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular components. This can occur as part of a cancer cell's response to chemotherapy and radiation, and it may also affect the resistance of a cancer to therapy. These cells are H460 non-small cell lung cancer cells. They were exposed to the anti-tumour drug etoposide. The H460 cells contain acidic autophagic vacuoles (orange) that are outside the cell nuclei. The small bright green bodies are probably micronuclei.