The significance of autophagy in cancer
- 6 July 2005
- journal article
- working hypothesis
- Published by Wiley in Molecular Carcinogenesis
- Vol. 43 (4), 183-187
- https://doi.org/10.1002/mc.20097
Abstract
Autophagy, a vacuolar process of cytoplasmic degradation, is implicated in a form of programmed cell death distinct from apoptosis. The regulation of autophagy is complex and signalling pathways such as the target of rapamycin (Tor) kinase pathway, play important roles in tumourigenesis. Beclin 1, an autophagic protein, has been found to be a tumour suppressor. Conversely, cancer cells may exploit autophagy as a means to adapt to hypoxic and nutrient-limiting environments. The relative importance of autophagic cell death and apoptosis in carcinogenesis remains to be established, and the Bcl-2 family of proteins may be instrumental in coordinating the two pathways of programmed cell death.Keywords
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