| The Dual Opposing Role of Autophagy in Cancer: From Cancer Promotion to Cancer Suppression: A Mini Review |
| Paper ID : 1184-IGA |
| Authors |
|
Rezvaneh Jahangiri * Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch, Hamedan, Iran |
| Abstract |
| Background and Aim: Autophagy is a cellular process essential for maintaining homeostasis, yet in cancer, it plays a dual role in both promoting and suppressing tumor growth. This review aims to explore these contradictory roles of autophagy and its potential as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment. Methods: A literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Keywords like "autophagy," "cancer," "tumor promotion," and "tumor suppression" were used to identify relevant studies published between 2015 and 2025. English-language articles on experimental models involving autophagy and cancer were included. Results: Autophagy promotes tumor growth by helping cancer cells survive under stress conditions like nutrient deprivation and oxidative stress. In contrast, autophagy can also suppress tumorigenesis by inducing cell death and preventing genomic instability. Key regulatory factors such as p53 and NRF2 influence autophagy’s opposing roles, with autophagy acting as a cytoprotective mechanism in some cases and a tumor-suppressive process in others. Conclusion: Autophagy has a complex, dual role in cancer, acting both as a promoter and suppressor of tumorigenesis. Understanding the mechanisms behind these opposing roles is essential for developing targeted therapies. Further research is needed to determine how to modulate autophagy effectively for cancer treatment. |
| Keywords |
| Autophagy, Cancer, Tumor promotion, Tumor suppression |
| Status: Accepted |
