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Updated: May 10, 2026

Quantitative Analysis of Autophagy using Advanced 3D Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: May 3, 2013
Autophagy in prostate cancer and androgen suppression therapy
Elio Ziparo1, Simonetta Petrungaro, Elettra Sara Marini
1Institute Pasteur Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics (DAHFMO), Section of Histology & Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00161, Italy. claudia.giampietri@uniroma1.it.
Abstract:
The role of autophagy is known to be highly complex and context-dependent, leading to both cancer suppression and progression in several tumors including melanoma, breast and prostate cancer. In the present review, recent advances in an understanding of the involvement of autophagy in prostate cancer treatment are described. The regulatory effects of androgens on prostate cancer cell autophagy are particularly discussed in order to highlight the effects of autophagy modulation during androgen deprivation. A critical evaluation of the studies examined in the present review suggests the attractive possibility of autophagy inhibition combined with hormonal therapy as a promising approach for prostate cancer treatment.
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