Tumor autophagy is associated with survival outcomes in patients with resected non-small cell lung cancer

Cancer cells survive the adverse conditions of the extracellular milieu (i. e. hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, and reduced growth factors) through angiogenesis and anaerobic glycolysis [1]. Autophagy is a self-degradative process, which is characterized by enclosure of cytoplasmic material inside autophagic vacuoles containing lysosomal enzymes [2]. Enzymatic degradation of engulfed material results in cell death. In oxygen and glucose depleted states, autophagy also activates an alternative metabolic pathways, providing tumor cells with additional energy [2].

Source: Lung Cancer - January 9, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Ivo Uberall, Mariam Gachechiladze, Markus Joerger, Josef Andel, Petra Smickova, Vitezslav Kolek, Ivona Grygarkova, Josef Skarda Source Type: research