Autophagy: A Critical Link Between Immune Response and Cancer Progression

Autophagy is a fundamental mechanism within cells and is crucial in maintaining cellular homeostasis by eliminating impaired organelles and toxic unfolded proteins. This process helps maintain cell health and may influence cancer development. Cancer persists as a formidable worldwide health challenge, characterized by uncontrolled growth and evasion of programmed cell death. Autophagy is considered a double-edged sword acting as both a tumor suppressor and a tumor promoter. Cancer cells have an increased autophagy rate compared to normal tissue and may depend more on autophagy than normal tissues. Their role in promoting cancer varies depending on the environment. However, research indicates that it is essential for maintaining cellular metabolism and preventing growth arrest caused by p53 activation, programmed cell death, senescence, energy crisis conditions, and tumor immune response activation. Autophagy promotes the growth of established tumors, increases the ability of cancer cells to survive under adverse circumstances such as dietary restrictions and hypoxia, and helps cancer cells resist treatment. Furthermore, autophagy encourages the spread of tumor cells by enhancing vascularization, fostering invasive traits, and reducing cell death in circulating cancer cells. Indeed, there’s a growing understanding of how autophagy contributes to sustaining tumor growth in specific cancer types. More insight into the molecular mechanisms controlling autophagy in the context of cancer would enable the development of novel strategies to target autophagy and enhance therapeutic outcomes. Here, we will discuss the intricate relationship between autophagy and cancer, exploring its impact on therapy resistance. We will also uncover the molecular mechanism of autophagy in cancer and highlight its role in immune response and tumor progression.