Regulation of Autophagy by Glycolysis in Cancer

• Main Authors: Chu Y, Chang Y, Lu W, Sheng X, Wang S, Xu H, Ma J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-12-01
• Series: Cancer Management and Research
• Subjects: glycolysis; autophagy; lung cancer; lactate; metabolism
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/regulation-of-autophagy-by-glycolysis-in-cancer-peer-reviewed-article-CMAR

Ying Chu, Yi Chang, Wei Lu, Xiumei Sheng, Shengjun Wang, Huaxi Xu, Jie Ma Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Jie MaDepartment of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, 301 XueFu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province 212013, People’s Republic of ChinaTel [phone]Email [e-mail]: Autophagy is a critical cellular process that generally protects cells and organisms from harsh environment, including limitations in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) availability or a lack of essential nutrients. Metabolic reprogramming, a hallmark of cancer, has recently gained interest in the area of cancer therapy. It is well known that cancer cells prefer to utilize glycolysis rather than oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) as their major energy source to rapidly generate ATP even in aerobic environment called the Warburg effect. Both autophagy and glycolysis play essential roles in pathological processes of cancer. A mechanism of metabolic changes to drive tumor progression is its ability to regulate autophagy. This review will elucidate the role and the mechanism of glycolysis in regulating autophagy during tumor growth. Indeed, understanding how glycolysis can modulate cellular autophagy will enable more effective combinatorial therapeutic strategies.Keywords: glycolysis, autophagy, lung cancer, lactate, metabolism