Autophagy and Multidrug Resistance in Cancer

Overview

Journal Chin J Cancer

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Oncology

Date 2017 Jun 26

PMID 28646911

Citations 345

Authors

Ying-Jie Li

Yu-He Lei

Nan Yao

Chen-Ran Wang

Nan Hu

Wen-Cai Ye

Dong-Mei Zhang

Zhe-Sheng Chen

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Multidrug resistance (MDR) occurs frequently after long-term chemotherapy, resulting in refractory cancer and tumor recurrence. Therefore, combatting MDR is an important issue. Autophagy, a self-degradative system, universally arises during the treatment of sensitive and MDR cancer. Autophagy can be a double-edged sword for MDR tumors: it participates in the development of MDR and protects cancer cells from chemotherapeutics but can also kill MDR cancer cells in which apoptosis pathways are inactive. Autophagy induced by anticancer drugs could also activate apoptosis signaling pathways in MDR cells, facilitating MDR reversal. Therefore, research on the regulation of autophagy to combat MDR is expanding and is becoming increasingly important. We summarize advanced studies of autophagy in MDR tumors, including the variable role of autophagy in MDR cancer cells.

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