Autophagy Awakens-the Myriad Roles of Autophagy in Head and Neck Cancer Development and Therapeutic Response

Overview

Journal Mol Carcinog

Specialties Molecular Biology
Oncology

Date 2021 Nov 15

PMID 34780672

Authors

Samantha T Bradley

Yong-Syu Lee

Zafer Gurel

Randall J Kimple

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved cell survival mechanism that degrades damaged proteins and organelles to generate cellular energy during times of stress. Recycling of these cellular components occurs in a series of sequential steps with multiple regulatory points. Mechanistic dysfunction can lead to a variety of human diseases and cancers due to the complexity of autophagy and its ability to regulate vital cellular functions. The role that autophagy plays in both the development and treatment of cancer is highly complex, especially given the fact that most cancer therapies modulate autophagy. This review aims to discuss the balance of autophagy in the development, progression, and treatment of head and neck cancer, as well as highlighting the need for a deeper understanding of what is still unknown about autophagy.

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