[Progress on association between autophagy and cancer]

Area of Science:

• Cellular Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Oncology

Background:

• Autophagy is a fundamental cellular catabolic process conserved across evolution.
• It involves the degradation of cellular components via autophagosomes and lysosomes.
• Autophagy plays a complex, dual role in cancer development and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the multifaceted role of autophagy in cancer.
• To investigate autophagy's interaction with cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
• To highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting autophagy in cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on autophagy and cancer.
• Analysis of autophagy's dual role in tumorigenesis (initiation vs. progression).
• Examination of autophagy induction by cancer treatments and its implications.

Main Results:

• Autophagy inhibits early-stage tumorigenesis but promotes later-stage tumor development.
• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can induce autophagy, often conferring a survival advantage to cancer cells.
• Autophagy's role is context-dependent, acting as both a tumor suppressor and promoter.

Conclusions:

• Autophagy is a critical factor in cancer biology with a "double-edged sword" effect.
• Targeting and suppressing autophagy presents a novel therapeutic strategy to enhance conventional cancer treatments.
• Inhibition of autophagy is under active investigation in clinical trials for cancer therapy.