Recent Advances in the Role of Autophagy in Endocrine-Dependent Tumors

Anvita Komarla; Suzanne Dufresne; Christina G Towers

doi:10.1210/endrev/bnad001

Recent Advances in the Role of Autophagy in Endocrine-Dependent Tumors

Endocr Rev. 2023 Jul 11;44(4):629-646. doi: 10.1210/endrev/bnad001.

Authors

Anvita Komarla^{1

2}, Suzanne Dufresne², Christina G Towers²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
² The Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Abstract

Autophagy plays a complex role in several cancer types, including endocrine-dependent cancers, by fueling cellular metabolism and clearing damaged substrates. This conserved recycling process has a dual function across tumor types where it can be tumor suppressive at early stages but tumor promotional in established disease. This review highlights the controversial roles of autophagy in endocrine-dependent tumors regarding cancer initiation, tumorigenesis, metastasis, and treatment response. We summarize clinical trial results thus far and highlight the need for additional mechanistic, preclinical, and clinical studies in endocrine-dependent tumors, particularly in breast cancer and prostate cancer.

Keywords: autophagy; cancer; chloroquine; clinical trials; endocrine-Dependent tumors.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Autophagy / physiology
Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
Carcinogenesis
Humans
Male
Neoplasms* / metabolism
Prostatic Neoplasms*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding