Autophagy in tumor immune escape and immunotherapy

Abstract The immunotherapy targeting tumor immune escape mechanisms has become a critical strategy in anticancer treatment; however, the challenge of immune resistance remains significant. Autophagy, a cellular response to various stressors, involves the degradation of damaged proteins and organelle...

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Main Authors: Huan Wang, Peng Sun, Xijing Yuan, Zhiyong Xu, Xinyuan Jiang, Mingshu Xiao, Xin Yao, Yueli Shi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:Molecular Cancer
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02277-y
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author Huan Wang
Peng Sun
Xijing Yuan
Zhiyong Xu
Xinyuan Jiang
Mingshu Xiao
Xin Yao
Yueli Shi
author_facet Huan Wang
Peng Sun
Xijing Yuan
Zhiyong Xu
Xinyuan Jiang
Mingshu Xiao
Xin Yao
Yueli Shi
author_sort Huan Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The immunotherapy targeting tumor immune escape mechanisms has become a critical strategy in anticancer treatment; however, the challenge of immune resistance remains significant. Autophagy, a cellular response to various stressors, involves the degradation of damaged proteins and organelles via lysosomal pathways, maintaining cellular homeostasis. This process not only supports tumor cell survival but also profoundly impacts the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. The modulation of autophagy in tumor cells or immune cells exerts dual effects on tumor immune escape and immunotherapy. However, the mechanistic details of how autophagy influences the immune system and therapy remain inadequately understood. Given this complexity, a deeper understanding of the role of autophagy in the tumor-immune landscape could reveal novel therapeutic avenues. By manipulating autophagy appropriately, it may be possible to overcome immune resistance and enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic strategies. This article summarizes the role of autophagy in tumor immunity, its relationship with immunotherapy, and the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting autophagy to strengthen antitumor immune responses and optimize the outcomes of immunotherapy.
format Article
id doaj-art-dac20785b3454ff79f6900a64d324389
institution Kabale University
issn 1476-4598
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Molecular Cancer
spelling doaj-art-dac20785b3454ff79f6900a64d3243892025-08-20T03:41:49ZengBMCMolecular Cancer1476-45982025-03-0124112110.1186/s12943-025-02277-yAutophagy in tumor immune escape and immunotherapyHuan Wang0Peng Sun1Xijing Yuan2Zhiyong Xu3Xinyuan Jiang4Mingshu Xiao5Xin Yao6Yueli Shi7Department of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Center for Oncology Medicine, the, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and Internation School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Center for Oncology Medicine, the, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and Internation School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Center for Oncology Medicine, the, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and Internation School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityDepartment of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Center for Oncology Medicine, the, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, and Internation School of Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityAbstract The immunotherapy targeting tumor immune escape mechanisms has become a critical strategy in anticancer treatment; however, the challenge of immune resistance remains significant. Autophagy, a cellular response to various stressors, involves the degradation of damaged proteins and organelles via lysosomal pathways, maintaining cellular homeostasis. This process not only supports tumor cell survival but also profoundly impacts the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. The modulation of autophagy in tumor cells or immune cells exerts dual effects on tumor immune escape and immunotherapy. However, the mechanistic details of how autophagy influences the immune system and therapy remain inadequately understood. Given this complexity, a deeper understanding of the role of autophagy in the tumor-immune landscape could reveal novel therapeutic avenues. By manipulating autophagy appropriately, it may be possible to overcome immune resistance and enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic strategies. This article summarizes the role of autophagy in tumor immunity, its relationship with immunotherapy, and the potential therapeutic benefits of targeting autophagy to strengthen antitumor immune responses and optimize the outcomes of immunotherapy.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02277-yAutophagyImmune escapeImmune resistanceTumor immune microenvironmentCancer
spellingShingle Huan Wang
Peng Sun
Xijing Yuan
Zhiyong Xu
Xinyuan Jiang
Mingshu Xiao
Xin Yao
Yueli Shi
Autophagy in tumor immune escape and immunotherapy
Molecular Cancer
Autophagy
Immune escape
Immune resistance
Tumor immune microenvironment
Cancer
title Autophagy in tumor immune escape and immunotherapy
title_full Autophagy in tumor immune escape and immunotherapy
title_fullStr Autophagy in tumor immune escape and immunotherapy
title_full_unstemmed Autophagy in tumor immune escape and immunotherapy
title_short Autophagy in tumor immune escape and immunotherapy
title_sort autophagy in tumor immune escape and immunotherapy
topic Autophagy
Immune escape
Immune resistance
Tumor immune microenvironment
Cancer
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-025-02277-y
work_keys_str_mv AT huanwang autophagyintumorimmuneescapeandimmunotherapy
AT pengsun autophagyintumorimmuneescapeandimmunotherapy
AT xijingyuan autophagyintumorimmuneescapeandimmunotherapy
AT zhiyongxu autophagyintumorimmuneescapeandimmunotherapy
AT xinyuanjiang autophagyintumorimmuneescapeandimmunotherapy
AT mingshuxiao autophagyintumorimmuneescapeandimmunotherapy
AT xinyao autophagyintumorimmuneescapeandimmunotherapy
AT yuelishi autophagyintumorimmuneescapeandimmunotherapy