Reprogramming Autophagy to Strengthen Antitumour Immunity: Advances in Immunotherapeutic Strategies

Autophagy is a central cellular process that supports homeostasis, yet it also plays a critical part in tumour immune evasion and treatment resistance, creating substantial obstacles for contemporary cancer immunotherapy. Because of this dual nature, targeted modulation of autophagy in either tumour cells or immune cells holds considerable potential to enhance therapeutic outcomes. However, the successful integration of autophagy directed strategies requires a clearer understanding of the molecular pathways through which autophagy shapes immune activity and treatment response. A more refined view of autophagy within the tumour immune microenvironment may open new therapeutic opportunities. Selectively targeting specific autophagy pathways could help overcome immune resistance and strengthen the impact of immunotherapy. Progress in this field will likely depend on the development of delivery systems that allow precise control of tumour autophagy in a compartment specific manner, as well as combination approaches that complement emerging treatments. Incorporating insights from immuno oncology, metabolic regulation, and immune surveillance may accelerate the translation of novel autophagy modulators into clinical testing, although current progress remains shaped largely by preclinical and early translational evidence.