Autophagy and intermittent fasting

the connection for cancer therapy?

Authors

  • Fernanda Antunes Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. Escola Paulista de Medicina. Departamento de Farmacologia
  • Adolfo Garcia Erustes Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. Escola Paulista de Medicina. Departamento de Farmacologia
  • Angelíca Jardim Costa Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. Escola Paulista de Medicina. Departamento de Farmacologia
  • Ana Carolina Nascimento Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. Escola Paulista de Medicina. Departamento de Farmacologia
  • Claudia Bincoletto Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. Escola Paulista de Medicina. Departamento de Farmacologia
  • Rodrigo Portes Ureshino Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas
  • Gustavo José Silva Pereira Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. Escola Paulista de Medicina. Departamento de Farmacologia
  • Soraya Soubhi Smaili Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo. Escola Paulista de Medicina. Departamento de Farmacologia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2018/e814s

Keywords:

Apoptosis, Autophagy, Fasting, Cancer, Therapy

Abstract

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and its incidence is continually increasing. Although anticancer therapy has improved significantly, it still has limited efficacy for tumor eradication and is highly toxic to healthy cells. Thus, novel therapeutic strategies to improve chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy are an important goal in cancer research. Macroautophagy (herein referred to as autophagy) is a conserved lysosomal degradation pathway for the intracellular recycling of macromolecules and clearance of damaged organelles and misfolded proteins to ensure cellular homeostasis. Dysfunctional autophagy contributes to many diseases, including cancer. Autophagy can suppress or promote tumors depending on the developmental stage and tumor type, and modulating autophagy for cancer treatment is an interesting therapeutic approach currently under intense investigation. Nutritional restriction is a promising protocol to modulate autophagy and enhance the efficacy of anticancer therapies while protecting normal cells. Here, the description and role of autophagy in tumorigenesis will be summarized. Moreover, the possibility of using fasting as an adjuvant therapy for cancer treatment, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying this approach, will be presented.

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Published

2019-02-18

Issue

Section

Review Articles

How to Cite

Antunes, F., Erustes, A. G., Costa, A. J., Nascimento, A. C., Bincoletto, C., Ureshino, R. P., Pereira, G. J. S., & Smaili, S. S. (2019). Autophagy and intermittent fasting: the connection for cancer therapy?. Clinics, 73(Suppl. 1), clinics/2018/e814s. https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2018/e814s