The role of cell autophagy in the occurence and development of hepatocarcinoma

Cell autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved pathway for degredation of cytoplasmic proteins and organelles,and it is a vital machinery for maintaining cell homestasis.Cell autophagy has a dual role in the occurence and development of hepatocarcinoma.Autophagy can serve as an anti-tumor machinery as defective autophagy promotes the malignant transformation.On the other hand,autophagy functions as a protective machinery are associated with liver metastasis and tumor related drug resistance. Key words: Liver neoplasms;  Autophagy;  Drug resistance, neoplasm