Autophagy-related chemoradiotherapy sensitivity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of tumor-related mortalities worldwide. NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer. In recent years, advancements in chemoradiotherapy and immunotherapy have led to unprecedented survival benefits in some patients. However, conventional therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy are not effective in all patients due to the chemo or radioresistance mechanisms; as a result, there is an urgent need for understanding the resistant mechanism. Given that malignancies are caused by changes in cell homeostasis, autophagy may help chemo/radiosensitization by removing damaged compartments and enhancing tumor clearance. Autophagy, on the other hand, may help cancer cells survive by increasing the breakdown of cell cycle regulators. Considering these inconsistencies, this study aimed to overview the intricacy of autophagy in response to chemoradiotherapy in lung cancer.