Natural small-molecule enhancers of autophagy induce autophagic cell death in apoptosis-defective cells.

ABSTRACT: Resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy is a significant problem in oncology, and the development of sensitising agents or small-molecules with new mechanisms of action to kill these cells is needed. Autophagy is a cellular process responsible for the turnover of misfolded proteins or damaged organelles, and it also recycles nutrients to maintain energy levels for cell survival. In some apoptosis-resistant cancer cells, autophagy can also enhance the efficacy of anti-cancer drugs through autophagy-mediated mechanisms of cell death. Because the modulation of autophagic processes can be therapeutically useful to circumvent chemoresistance and enhance the effects of cancer treatment, the identification of novel autophagic enhancers for use in oncology is highly desirable. Many novel anti-c

SUBMITTER: Law BY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4076737 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature