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Complex Interplay between DNA Damage and Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
Aman Singh1, Naresh Ravendranathan1, Jefferson C Frisbee1
1Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street North, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada.
Biomolecules
|August 29, 2024
Summary
This review explores how modulating autophagy, a cellular recycling process, can enhance cancer therapy and reduce doxorubicin (Dox) side effects. It also examines autophagy's role in DNA repair, especially concerning BRCA1/2 mutations.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cellular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cancer is a complex disease driven by genetic and environmental factors.
- Doxorubicin (Dox) is an effective chemotherapy but causes dose-dependent toxicity.
- Autophagy, a cellular degradation process, is implicated in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the relationship between cancer, doxorubicin (Dox) toxicity, and autophagy modulation.
- To explore the role of autophagy in DNA damage repair pathways.
- To investigate the implications of autophagy in BRCA1/2-mutated cancers.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on cancer, autophagy, doxorubicin, and DNA repair.
- Analysis of the interplay between autophagy, DNA damage, and BRCA1/2 genes.
- Synthesis of evidence on therapeutic targeting of autophagy in cancer treatment.
Main Results:
- Autophagy dysregulation contributes to cancer progression and drug resistance.
- Modulating autophagy may enhance chemotherapy efficacy and reduce side effects.
- Autophagy is linked to DNA damage repair, with potential relevance to BRCA1/2 mutations.
Conclusions:
- Targeting autophagy presents a promising strategy for improving cancer therapy outcomes.
- Understanding autophagy's role in DNA repair could lead to novel therapeutic approaches for BRCA1/2-mutated cancers.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the therapeutic potential of autophagy modulation in oncology.
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