Autophagy is a complex process involved in several cell activities, including tissue growth, differentiation, metabolic modulation, and cancer development. In prostate cancer, autophagy has a pivotal role in the regulation of apoptosis and disease progression. Several molecular pathways are involved, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR. However, depending on the cellular context, autophagy may play either a detrimental or a protective role in prostate cancer. For this purpose, current evidence has investigated how autophagy interacts within these complex interactions. In this article, we discuss novel findings about autophagic machinery in order to better understand the therapeutic response and the chemotherapy resistance of prostate cancer. Autophagic-modulation drugs have been employed in clinical trials to regulate autophagy, aiming to improve the response to chemotherapy or to anti-cancer treatments. Furthermore, the genetic signature of autophagy has been found to have a potential means to stratify prostate cancer aggressiveness. Unfortunately, stronger evidence is needed to better understand this field, and the application of these findings in clinical practice still remains poorly feasible.
International journal of molecular sciences. 2022 Mar 30*** epublish ***
Davide Loizzo, Savio Domenico Pandolfo, Devin Rogers, Clara Cerrato, Nicola Antonio di Meo, Riccardo Autorino, Vincenzo Mirone, Matteo Ferro, Camillo Porta, Alessandro Stella, Cinzia Bizzoca, Leonardo Vincenti, Marco Spilotros, Monica Rutigliano, Michele Battaglia, Pasquale Ditonno, Giuseppe Lucarelli
Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation-Urology, Andrology and Kidney Transplantation Unit, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy., Division of Urology, Virginia Commonwealth University Health, Richmond, VA 23298, USA., Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA., Division of Urology, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", 80100 Napoli, Italy., Division of Urology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO), IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy., Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy., Department of General Surgery "Ospedaliera", Polyclinic Hospital of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy.