Elsevier

Redox Biology

Volume 4, April 2015, Pages 184-192
Redox Biology

Mini Review
Interplay between ROS and autophagy in cancer cells, from tumor initiation to cancer therapy

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2014.12.003Get rights and content
Under a Creative Commons license
open access

Highlights

  • In cancer cells, ROS are able to regulate the different steps of autophagy pathway.

  • During cancer initiation, anti-tumoral autophagy is going through ROS elimination.

  • During cancer development, pro-tumoral autophagy is linked to decreased ROS levels.

  • Autophagy inhibitor or antioxidant with anti-cancer drug: a new therapeutic approach?

Abstract

Cancer formation is a complex and highly regulated multi-step process which is highly dependent of its environment, from the tissue to the patient. This complexity implies the development of specific treatments adapted to each type of tumor. The initial step of cancer formation requires the transformation of a healthy cell to a cancer cell, a process regulated by multiple intracellular and extracellular stimuli. The further steps, from the anarchic proliferation of cancer cells to form a primary tumor to the migration of cancer cells to distant organs to form metastasis, are also highly dependent of the tumor environment but of intracellular molecules and pathways as well. In this review, we will focus on the regulatory role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy levels during the course of cancer development, from cellular transformation to the formation of metastasis. These data will allow us to discuss the potential of this molecule or pathway as putative future therapeutic targets.

Abbreviations

3-MA
3-methyladenine
AMPK
AMP-activated protein kinase
ATG
autophagy related gene
ATG8
autophagy related gene 8
BNIP3
BCL-2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa-interacting protein 3
EMT
epithelial-mesenchymal transition
GABARAP
GABAA receptor-associated protein
GABARAPL1
GABARAP protein-like 1
GEC1
glandular epithelial cell 1
GABARAPL2
GABARAP protein-like 2
HIF-1α
hypoxia-inducible factor-1 α
HMGB1
high-mobility group protein B 1
HSP
heat shock protein
KEAP1
Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1
LC3
light chain 3
mTORC1
mammalian target of rapamycin complex
NLRP3
NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3
NRF2
nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2
PINK1
PTEN induced putative kinase 1
ROS
reactive oxygen species
SQSTM1
sequestosome 1
ULK1
unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1

Keywords

ROS
Mitochondria
Antioxidant
Mitophagy
Autophagy
Cancer

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