Role of Lysosomes in Mediating Cancer Drug Resistance

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, our understanding of how lysosomes function has advanced dramatically. They are now considered dynamic organelles with varied physiological and pathophysiological functions in cell metabolism, autophagy, cell proliferation, gene expression, cell stress, cell death, immune response, membrane repair, tumor invasion, and synaptic plasticity regulation. In addition, they are putatively linked to drug resistance through the altered intracellular distribution of anti-cancer drugs. Although research has not yet provided clear evidence to clarify the mechanism of drug resistance, it is known that lysosomes can influence sensitivity to anti-tumor drugs through cell death mechanism regulation. For example, they are involved in autophagic cell death, lysosomal-mediated cell death, and the process of (macro)-autophagy, which can prevent apoptosis induction in response to anticancer drugs. I encourage my colleagues to think more broadly about mechanisms of drug resistance, whether directly or indirectly involving lysosomes, given what is now known about these organelles.

Reviews and original research on mechanisms modulating the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo with the direct or indirect involvement of lysosomes are welcome. Potential topics covered by this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

• (Macro)-autophagy
• Lysosomal-mediated cell death
• Autophagic cell death
• Lysosomal exocytosis
• Tumor microenvironment
• Lysosomal drug sequestration

Dr. Petr Mlejnek
Guest Editor

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