Role of Autophagy in Cancer Stem Cells and the Tumor Microenvironment: New Frontiers in Cancer Drug Discovery

Dear Colleagues,

Autophagy, a conserved cellular degradation process, plays an essential role in the breakdown, elimination, and recycling of dysfunctional as well as damaged organelles. The dysregulation of autophagy has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various human diseases, including cancer. A growing body of research demonstrated a paradoxical role for autophagy in cancer development and progression that is influenced by tumor stage, genetics, and the tumor microenvironment.

To date, attempts to target autophagy for cancer therapy have yielded mixed results and uncovered several challenges. For instance, tumor cells can adapt and develop resistance to autophagy inhibition. Targeting autophagy only revealed efficacy in autophagy-addicted cancers. Additionally, the suppression of autophagy was associated with promoting metastasis and tumor recurrence. As such, the evaluation of (hydroxy)chloroquine in clinical trials revealed several key limitations.

A growing body of research suggests that autophagy could modulate various novel mechanisms, including tumor immunity and cancer stem cells. This Special Issue aims to publish original research articles or comprehensive reviews focusing on the role of autophagy in therapeutic resistance, cancer stem cell survival, autophagy addiction, and the tumor microenvironment. It will also focus on studies that shed light on new approaches for targeting autophagy and defining novel pharmacological targets to modulate autophagy in cancer.

Dr. Yasser Heakal
Prof. Dr. Alakananda Basu
Prof. Dr. Kasper M. Rouschop
Guest Editors

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