Recent advances in Cancer treatment targeting autophagy and future aspects

Abstract

Lysosomal autophagy controls cellular homeostasis by degrading and recycling cytoplasmic molecules and organelles in the lysosome. This process in neuronal cells protects cognitive decline by removing abnormal intracellular protein accumulation. Since autophagy is well-known, new regulators of the process are expected to be discovered. It has been hypothesized that modulating autophagy can be employed as a therapeutic mechanism to boost the efficacy of traditional medicines, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Thus, a critical concern in cancer therapy is whether to promote or inhibit autophagy. To enable the successful development of treatments targeting autophagy, a complete knowledge of the molecular components of autophagy is addressed here, with a particular emphasis on druggable targets, combination therapy are also explored as well as the possible hurdles and constraints for the application of these innovative therapeutic techniques in clinical practice.