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The Multifaceted Roles of Autophagy in Tumors—Implications for Breast Cancer

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Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved lysosomal degradation process that is crucial for adaptation to stress as well as in cellular homeostasis. In cancer, our current understanding has uncovered multifaceted roles for autophagy in tumor initiation and progression. Although genetic evidence corroborates a critical role for autophagy as a tumor suppressor mechanism, autophagy can also promote the survival and fitness of advanced tumors subject to stress, which has important implications during breast cancer progression and metastasis. Here, I discuss the mechanisms and the evidence underlying these diverse roles for autophagy in cancer and speculate on specific circumstances in which autophagy can be most effectively targeted for breast cancer treatment.

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Abbreviations

ATG:

autophagy related gene

DCIS:

ductal carcinoma in situ

ER:

endoplasmic reticulum

HCQ:

hydroxychloroquine

LIR:

LC3 interacting region

OIS:

oncogene-induced senescence

PI3K:

phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

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Acknowledgements

Grant support to JD for his work on autophagy and breast cancer includes the NIH (CA126792 and ARRA Supplement CA126792-S1) and an Era of Hope Scholar Award (W81XWH-11-1-0130) from the DOD Breast Cancer Research Program.

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  1. Department of Pathology and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, 513 Parnassus Ave, HSW450B, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA

    Jayanta Debnath

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Debnath, J. The Multifaceted Roles of Autophagy in Tumors—Implications for Breast Cancer. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 16, 173–187 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-011-9223-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10911-011-9223-3

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