Autophagy in the regulation of cancer dormancy

Abstract

Relapse and metastasis continue to be major factors in cancer patient morbidity and death. Cancer dormancy is one of the reasons why cancer recurs after months or years of treatment. With the ability to reactivate, dormant tumors are transitioning into a growth latency stage that shields them from immune surveillance and traditional chemotherapy medications. Over the past decade, research efforts have concentrated on understanding processes governing the dormant state better. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment of metastatic illness, and prevention of relapse. Cancer tolerance to stress may depend on autophagy, a cellular stress and recycling system that promotes cancer growth and survival. Recent studies indicated that autophagy may help cancer cells to survive in primary and metastatic environments, to withstand treatment, to develop a dormant state, and to transition from the dormancy to a proliferative state. In this Review, we will discuss the autophagy–dormancy connection in primary and metastatic cancer.