The role of autophagy in cell survival and tumor development

Autophagy occurs in all types of eukaryotic cells, which has a rigid connection with the normal or abnormal development of cells and is associated with many diseases. There're lots of molecular control elements and multiple signaling pathways involved in regulating autophagy. As a form of type Ⅱ programmed cell death, autophagy participates in maintaining cell homeostasis and pathogenesis of various of diseases through interacting with apoptotic pathway. Recent studies show that autophagy has effects on the occurrence and development of tumor cells through influencing on cell cycle, apoptosis-associated factors and angiogenesis.