Open AccessAutophagy and multidrug resistance in cancer
Author(s) -
Li YingJie,
Lei YuHe,
Yao Nan,
Wang ChenRan,
Hu Nan,
Ye WenCai,
Zhang DongMei,
Chen ZheSheng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
cancer communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.119
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2523-3548
DOI - 10.1186/s40880-017-0219-2
Subject(s) - autophagy , multiple drug resistance , cancer , apoptosis , cancer cell , cancer research , biology , drug resistance , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , genetics
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.