Autophagy, a degradation mechanism conserved among eukaryotes, plays an important role in cellular homeostasis by maintaining nutrients and energy balance. It is not surprising that autophagy has been associated with various pathological conditions such as neurodegeneration, aging, infection, and cancer. Its roles in cancer are complex and context-dependent. In this chapter, we will give an overview of regulation of autophagy with an emphasis in cancer and summarize the recent efforts in developing cancer therapeutics targeting autophagy.
Part of the book: Programmed Cell Death