Deciphering the role of autophagy in treatment of resistance mechanisms in glioblastoma

KHAN I., Baig M. H., Mahfooz S., Rahim M., KARAÇAM B., ELBASAN E. B., ...More

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol.22, no.3, pp.1-26, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 22 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.3390/ijms22031318
  • Journal Name: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Page Numbers: pp.1-26
  • Keywords: autophagy, glioblastoma, glioma stem cells, chemoresistance, radioresistance, molecular targets, HYPOXIA-INDUCED AUTOPHAGY, RADIATION-INDUCED AUTOPHAGY, DUAL PI3K/MTOR INHIBITOR, GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR, STEM-LIKE CELLS, TEMOZOLOMIDE CYTOTOXICITY, ENDOPLASMIC-RETICULUM, IONIZING-RADIATION, MEDIATED AUTOPHAGY, UP-REGULATION
  • Bezmialem Vakıf University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Autophagy is a process essential for cellular energy consumption, survival, and defense mechanisms. The role of autophagy in several types of human cancers has been explicitly explained; however, the underlying molecular mechanism of autophagy in glioblastoma remains ambiguous. Autophagy is thought to be a “double-edged sword”, and its effect on tumorigenesis varies with cell type. On the other hand, autophagy may play a significant role in the resistance mechanisms against various therapies. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to gain insight into the molecular mechanisms deriving the autophagy-mediated therapeutic resistance and designing improved treatment strategies for glioblastoma. In this review, we discuss autophagy mechanisms, specifically its pro-survival and growth-suppressing mechanisms in glioblastomas. In addition, we try to shed some light on the autophagy-mediated activation of the cellular mechanisms supporting radioresistance and chemoresistance in glioblastoma. This review also highlights autophagy’s involvement in glioma stem cell behavior, underlining its role as a potential molecular target for therapeutic interventions.