Modulation of autophagy and its potential for cancer therapy

Autophagy is a process whereby cellular contents are captured in specialized membrane-bound vesicles and delivered to lysosomes for final degradation. Most studies support an inherent connection between autophagy and survival, but increasing evidence also suggests an association between autophagy and cell death. The therapeutic potential of targeting the autophagy pathway in cancer appears clear, but specific strategies for achieving successful eradication of cancer cells are less obvious. Recent developments in the fields of autophagy and programmed cell death have nevertheless shed light on therapeutic strategies with significant potential. In this review, we provide an overview of the autophagy process, pathways that modulate autophagy and promising autophagy-based therapeutic strategies for cancer.