Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Cytotoxic Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy in Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro

Cytotoxic Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy in Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro

Published on: March 18, 2014

Autophagy Modulation as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy in Osteosarcoma: Current Insights and Future Perspectives

Sergio Almansa-Gómez¹, Francisco Prieto-Ruiz¹, José Cansado¹

¹Yeast Physiology Group, Departamento de Genética y Microbiología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

|September 28, 2023

Abstract:

Autophagy, the process that enables the recycling and degradation of cellular components, is essential for homeostasis, which occurs in response to various types of stress. Autophagy plays an important role in the genesis and evolution of osteosarcoma (OS). The conventional treatment of OS has limitations and is not always effective at controlling the disease. Therefore, numerous researchers have analyzed how controlling autophagy could be used as a treatment or strategy to reverse resistance to therapy in OS. They highlight how the inhibition of autophagy improves the efficacy of chemotherapeutic treatments and how the promotion of autophagy could prove positive in OS therapy. The modulation of autophagy can also be directed against OS stem cells, improving treatment efficacy and preventing cancer recurrence. Despite promising findings, future studies are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of autophagy and its relationship to OS, as well as the mechanisms underlying the functioning of autophagic modulators. Careful evaluation is required as autophagy modulation may have adverse effects on normal cells, and the optimization of autophagic modulators for use as drugs in OS is imperative.

Insights

Autophagy modulation shows promise in osteosarcoma (OS) treatment by enhancing chemotherapy efficacy and targeting cancer stem cells. Further research is needed to optimize therapies and understand potential adverse effects.

Area of Science:

Cellular Biology
Oncology

Background:

Autophagy is crucial for cellular homeostasis and stress response.
Autophagy significantly influences osteosarcoma (OS) development and progression.
Conventional OS treatments face limitations in efficacy and disease control.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the role of modulating autophagy in osteosarcoma (OS) therapy.
To investigate autophagy modulation as a strategy to overcome treatment resistance in OS.
To assess the potential of targeting autophagy in OS stem cells.

Main Methods:

Literature review on autophagy modulation in osteosarcoma.
Analysis of studies investigating autophagy inhibition and promotion in OS treatment.
Examination of research on targeting cancer stem cells via autophagy.

Main Results:

Inhibition of autophagy can enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy in OS.
Promotion of autophagy may offer therapeutic benefits in OS treatment.
Modulating autophagy can target OS stem cells, potentially improving treatment outcomes and preventing recurrence.

Conclusions:

Autophagy modulation presents a promising therapeutic avenue for osteosarcoma.
Further research is essential to elucidate molecular mechanisms and optimize autophagic modulators for OS treatment.
Careful consideration of potential adverse effects on normal cells is required.

Read full analysis

Keywords:

autophagy cancer chemoresistance modulation osteosarcoma radioresistance treatment

More Related Videos

A Syngeneic Orthotopic Osteosarcoma Sprague Dawley Rat Model with Amputation to Control Metastasis Rate

A Syngeneic Orthotopic Osteosarcoma Sprague Dawley Rat Model with Amputation to Control Metastasis Rate

Published on: May 3, 2021

Three-Dimensional Bone Extracellular Matrix Model for Osteosarcoma

Three-Dimensional Bone Extracellular Matrix Model for Osteosarcoma

Published on: April 12, 2019

Related Concept Videos

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...

Autophagy

Autophagy

Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...

Targeted Cancer Therapies

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...

Autophagic Cell Death

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Unveiling the diversity, ecology, and biotechnological potential of culturable marine yeasts in Western Mediterranean coastal ecosystems.

IMA fungus·2026

Metabolic control of cytokinesis by glucose cAMP-PKA signaling in fission yeast.

Microbiological research·2025

MAPK-dependent control of mitotic progression in S. pombe.

BMC biology·2024

Divergence of cytokinesis and dimorphism control by myosin II regulatory light chain in fission yeasts.

iScience·2023

Myosin II regulatory light chain phosphorylation and formin availability modulate cytokinesis upon changes in carbohydrate metabolism.

eLife·2023

cAMP-Protein kinase A and stress-activated MAP kinase signaling mediate transcriptional control of autophagy in fission yeast during glucose limitation or starvation.

Autophagy·2022

See all related articles