Beyond self‑eating: Emerging autophagy‑independent functions for the autophagy molecules in cancer (Review)

Area of Science:

• Cellular Biology
• Molecular Oncology
• Autophagy Research

Background:

• Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process crucial for maintaining homeostasis, organelle quality control, and defense against pathogens.
• Autophagy plays a dual role in cancer, suppressing tumor initiation but potentially supporting established tumor progression.
• Key molecules within the autophagy machinery possess known canonical functions and emerging autophagy-independent roles.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes current literature on the multifaceted functions of autophagy-related molecules.
• It specifically focuses on the autophagy-independent activities of these molecules.
• The review examines how these non-canonical functions impact signaling pathways implicated in cancer progression.

Key Points:

• Autophagy molecules like ATG5, ATG12, and Beclin-1 exhibit significant autophagy-independent functions.
• These molecules participate in various biological processes beyond their canonical roles in autophagy.
• Their non-canonical activities can modulate signaling pathways critical for cancer cell survival and metastasis.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the autophagy-independent functions of autophagy machinery components is crucial for cancer research.
• These molecules represent potential therapeutic targets for modulating cancer progression through both canonical and non-canonical pathways.
• Further investigation into these dual roles can lead to novel cancer treatment strategies.