Autophagy in Cancer: A Double-Edged Sword in Tumor Suppression and Progression

Abstract

As a type-2 programmed cell death, autophagy is essential for cancer, as are proteins linked to autophagy. Autophagy's dual function in cancer growth and inhibition is still debatable. Depending on the situation and stage of the development of cancer, autophagy can either promote or repress tumours. Autophagy, as a survival route and quality control mechanism, inhibits the growth of cancer and prevents the formation of tumours in the early stages of carcinogenesis. When a tumour reaches a late stage and is exposed to environmental stressors, autophagy, a dynamic degradation and recycling system, helps the tumours survive and develop. It also encourages the cancer to become more aggressive by aiding metastasis. These days, autophagy also plays a part in the immune cells that surround tumours. Growing knowledge of the role autophagy and associated mechanisms play in the initiation and spread of cancer has aided in the development of anticancer therapies that either promote or inhibit autophagy. The development of anticancer treatments based on autophagy stimulation or inhibition has been aided by mounting evidence of the impact of autophagy and associated processes on the onset and spread of cancer. This review comprehensively discusses the molecular mechanisms of autophagy, its contrasting roles in tumor suppression and progression, and the current status of autophagy-targeted therapies, highlighting future directions for personalized cancer treatment.