Autophagy: A promising target for triple negative breast cancers

Yomna S Abd El-Aziz; Josef Gillson; Patric J Jansson; Sumit Sahni

doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2021.106006

Autophagy: A promising target for triple negative breast cancers

Pharmacol Res. 2022 Jan:175:106006. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.106006. Epub 2021 Nov 27.

Authors

Yomna S Abd El-Aziz¹, Josef Gillson², Patric J Jansson³, Sumit Sahni⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, NSW, Australia; Oral Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
² Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
³ Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, NSW, Australia; Cancer Drug Resistance and Stem Cell Program, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Kolling Institute of Medical Research, St Leonards, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: sumit.sahni@sydney.edu.au.

PMID: 34843961
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.106006

Abstract

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive type of breast cancers which constitutes about 15% of all breast cancer cases and characterized by negative expression of hormonal receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Thus, endocrine and HER2 targeted therapies are not effective toward TNBCs, and they mainly rely on chemotherapy and surgery for treatment. Despite recent advances in chemotherapy, 40% of TNBC patients develop a metastatic relapse and recurrence. Therefore, understanding the molecular profile of TNBC is warranted to identify targets that can be selected for the development of a new and effective therapeutic approach. Autophagy is an internal defensive mechanism that allows the cells to survive under different stressors. It has been well known that autophagy exerts a crucial role in cancer progression. The critical role of autophagy in TNBC progression is emerging in recent years. This review will discuss autophagic pathway, how autophagy affects TNBC progression and recent therapeutic approaches that can target autophagy as a new treatment modality.

Keywords: Autophagy; Autophagy inhibitors; Triple negative breast cancer.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
Autophagy* / drug effects
Female
Humans
Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents