At a glance: A history of autophagy and cancer

Since the first discovery of the lysosome and the definition of autophagy by Christian de Duve more than 60 years ago, research on autophagy, a process targeting cytoplasmic materials for lysosomal degradation and recycling, has expanded dramatically. This research has extended our understanding of the basic mechanism of autophagy as well as its role in pathophysiology. Autophagy deficiency has been reported to be involved in numerous diseases, among which cancer has been extensively studied, in part because autophagy appears to play a dual role, depending on the stage of tumorigenesis. In this review, we will briefly revisit the intriguing history of autophagy and cancer, underscoring the importance of harnessing this pathway for the benefit of human health.