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Related Concept Videos

Autophagy01:27

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,...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

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...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

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 Lysosome01:36

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...
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

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 pro-apoptotic...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
07:20

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy

Published on: January 31, 2025

Autophagy modulation in cancer.

Emma Guilbaud1, Kevin M Ryan2,3, Douglas R Green4

  • 1Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery
|May 18, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Autophagy, a cellular process, plays a dual role in cancer. While it can prevent cancer, it also helps tumors survive and evade immune responses, complicating treatment strategies.

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Evaluating Autophagy Levels in Two Different Pancreatic Cell Models Using LC3 Immunofluorescence

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
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Published on: January 31, 2025

Cell-Based Drug Screening for Inhibitors of Autophagy Related 4B Cysteine Peptidase
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Cell-Based Drug Screening for Inhibitors of Autophagy Related 4B Cysteine Peptidase

Published on: June 30, 2023

Evaluating Autophagy Levels in Two Different Pancreatic Cell Models Using LC3 Immunofluorescence
08:07

Evaluating Autophagy Levels in Two Different Pancreatic Cell Models Using LC3 Immunofluorescence

Published on: April 28, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process crucial for homeostasis and quality control.
  • Dysregulation of autophagy is implicated in cancer development and progression.
  • Autophagy's role in cancer is complex, influencing tumor survival, immune evasion, and therapeutic response.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the multifaceted role of autophagy in cancer biology.
  • To discuss the potential and challenges of targeting autophagy for cancer therapy.
  • To examine how autophagy affects cancer cell (immuno)biology and response to immunotherapy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of current research on autophagy and cancer.
  • Analysis of the dual role of autophagy in tumor initiation and progression.
  • Discussion of the implications of autophagy for cancer treatment and immunotherapy.

Main Results:

  • Autophagy defects can promote malignant transformation.
  • Established tumors utilize autophagy to survive harsh conditions and resist therapy.
  • Autophagy influences cancer cell susceptibility to immune responses and immunotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting autophagy presents a promising strategy for cancer treatment, but requires context-specific approaches.
  • Nonspecific autophagy inhibitors pose challenges due to their impact on healthy cells, including immune cells.
  • Further research is needed to develop precise autophagy-targeting therapies for improved cancer outcomes and immunotherapy efficacy.