Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
Published on: January 31, 2025
Autophagy-Apoptosis Crosstalk in Cancer: Mechanisms, Signaling Pathways, and Therapeutic Targeting
Dia Kakkar1, Saloni Saxena1, Utkarshita Dhawan1
1Cell and Molecular Biology Lab, TERI School of Advanced Studies, Plot No. 10, Sankar Rd, Vasant Kunj Institutional Area, New Delhi 110070, India.
Autophagy and apoptosis are key cell fate regulators in cancer. Understanding their crosstalk is crucial for developing new combination therapies to improve cancer treatment and patient survival.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Autophagy and apoptosis are conserved catabolic processes vital for cellular homeostasis and stress response.
- Their interplay significantly impacts cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular mechanisms of autophagy-apoptosis crosstalk in cancer.
- To highlight signaling pathways and proteins regulating this interplay.
- To discuss therapeutic strategies targeting this crosstalk for enhanced cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on autophagy-apoptosis interactions in cancer.
- Analysis of key signaling pathways (e.g., PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK) and regulatory proteins.
- Examination of therapeutic agents impacting this crosstalk.
Main Results:
- Significant molecular crosstalk exists between autophagy and apoptosis, influencing cell survival and death.
- Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to cancer progression and treatment resistance.
- Targeting autophagy-apoptosis crosstalk shows potential for novel combination cancer therapies.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the autophagy-apoptosis interplay is essential for advancing precision oncology.
- Targeting this crosstalk with existing or novel agents may overcome therapeutic resistance.
- Further research can lead to improved combination cancer treatment strategies.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...

