Autophagy plays a complex role in several cancer types, including endocrine-dependent cancers, by fueling cellular metabolism and clearing damaged substrates. This conserved recycling process has a dual function across tumor types where it can be tumor suppressive at early stages but tumor promotional in established disease. This review highlights the controversial roles of autophagy in endocrine-dependent tumors regarding cancer initiation, tumorigenesis, metastasis, and treatment response. We summarize clinical trial results thus far and highlight the need for additional mechanistic, preclinical, and clinical studies in endocrine-dependent tumors, particularly in breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Keywords: autophagy; cancer; chloroquine; clinical trials; endocrine-Dependent tumors.
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.