Dual Opposed Survival-supporting and Death-promoting Roles of Autophagy in Cancer Cells: A Concise Review

Autophagy is a well-maintained process by which the cells recycle intracellular materials to maintain homeostasis in various cellular functions. However, autophagy is a defensive mechanism that maintains cell survival under antagonistic conditions, the induction of the autophagic process may substantially lead to cell death. The conflicting roles of autophagy including allowing cell survival or promoting cell death could have a troublesome impact on the efficiency of chemotherapeutic agents. Accordingly, understanding the role of autophagy in cancer is a vital need for its optimal manipulation in therapy.