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Updated: Dec 18, 2025

Quantitative Analysis of Autophagy using Advanced 3D Fluorescence Microscopy
Published on: May 3, 2013
Molecular modulation of autophagy: New venture to target resistant cancer stem cells
Harpreet K Mandhair1, Miroslav Arambasic1, Urban Novak1
1Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern 3008, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Autophagy is a highly regulated catabolic process in which superfluous, damaged organelles and other cytoplasmic constituents are delivered to the lysosome for clearance and the generation of macromolecule substrates during basal or stressed conditions. Autophagy is a bimodal process with a context dependent role in the initiation and the development of cancers. For instance, autophagy provides an adaptive response to cancer stem cells to survive metabolic stresses, by influencing disease propagation via modulation of essential signaling pathways or by promoting resistance to chemotherapeutics. Autophagy has been implicated in a cross talk with apoptosis. Understanding the complex interactions provides an opportunity to improve cancer therapy and the clinical outcome for the cancer patients. In this review, we provide a comprehensive view on the current knowledge on autophagy and its role in cancer cells with a particular focus on cancer stem cell homeostasis.
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