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Autophagy in cancer stem/progenitor cells
Yi-Hui Lin1, Yu-Chun Huang, Li-Hsin Chen
1School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
Abstract:
Macroautophagy is widely accepted as a cytoprotective mechanism against various environmental stresses. While inhibition of autophagy is generally considered to increase the susceptibility of cancer cells to therapeutic agents, whether it also plays a similar role in tumor stem cells is unclear and still controversial. With increased attention and efforts focused on the cytoprotective feature of autophagy in cancer, it is also essential to understand its role in the biology of cancer stem cells, including self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity. Although there are very few studies that evaluate autophagy in cancer stem/progenitor cells, understanding the mechanisms governing autophagic responses in various cancer stem cells could provide support for the future development of clinical therapeutics. The present review summarizes current studies that assess the role of autophagy in various types of cancer stem cells and those that evaluate the application of inhibitors of key components within the autophagy pathway in cancer stem/progenitor cells.
Insights
Autophagy protects cells from stress. This review explores autophagy's role in cancer stem cells, crucial for developing new cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Cellular Biology
- Oncology
- Cancer Stem Cell Research
Background:
- Macroautophagy is a known cytoprotective mechanism against environmental stress.
- Autophagy's role in increasing cancer cell susceptibility to therapy is established.
- The function of autophagy in cancer stem cells remains controversial and requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on autophagy in various cancer stem cells.
- To evaluate the application of autophagy inhibitors in cancer stem/progenitor cells.
- To understand autophagy's role in cancer stem cell self-renewal, differentiation, and tumorigenicity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on autophagy in cancer stem cells.
- Analysis of research evaluating autophagy pathway inhibitors in cancer stem/progenitor cells.
Main Results:
- Autophagy plays a complex role in cancer stem cells, influencing their survival and behavior.
- Limited studies exist, highlighting a gap in understanding autophagy in these cells.
- Autophagy inhibition strategies show potential but require further validation.
Conclusions:
- Understanding autophagy in cancer stem cells is critical for advancing cancer therapeutics.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms of autophagy in cancer stem cells.
- Targeting autophagy pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.
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