Autophagy in cancer therapy—molecular mechanisms and current clinical advances

Ganzleben I, Neurath M, Becker C (2021)


Publication Type: Journal article, Review article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Book Volume: 13

Article Number: 5575

Journal Issue: 21

DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215575

Abstract

Autophagy is a crucial general survival tactic of mammalian cells. It describes the capability of cells to disassemble and partially recycle cellular components (e.g., mitochondria) in case they are damaged and pose a risk to cell survival or simply if their resources are urgently needed elsewhere at the time. Autophagy-associated pathomechanisms have been increasingly recognized as important disease mechanisms in non-malignant (neurodegeneration, diffuse parenchymal lung disease) and malignant conditions alike. However, the overall consequences of autophagy for the organism depend particularly on the greater context in which autophagy occurs, such as the cell type or whether the cell is proliferating. In cancer, autophagy sustains cancer cell survival under challenging, i.e., resource-depleted, conditions. However, this leads to situations in which cancer cells are completely dependent on autophagy. Accordingly, autophagy represents a promising yet complex target in cancer treatment with therapeutically induced increase and decrease of autophagic flux as important therapeutic principles.

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How to cite

APA:

Ganzleben, I., Neurath, M., & Becker, C. (2021). Autophagy in cancer therapy—molecular mechanisms and current clinical advances. Cancers, 13(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13215575

MLA:

Ganzleben, Ingo, Markus Neurath, and Christoph Becker. "Autophagy in cancer therapy—molecular mechanisms and current clinical advances." Cancers 13.21 (2021).

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