Review Article

Implications of Therapy-Induced Selective Autophagy on Tumor Metabolism and Survival

Table 1

Clinically used anticancer agents that may induce mitophagy, nucleophagy, and ubiquitin-mediated autophagy in tumor cells.

DrugMechanism of actionCancer typeConfirmed autophagy inducer

Mitophagy
 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosineDNA synthesis inhibitor [44, 45], mPTP opener [46]Leukemia [47], lymphoma [48]no
 ButyratemPTP opener [49, 50]Leukemia [51]yes [50]
 DoxorubicinmPTP opener [46]Breast [52], lung, melanoma, sarcoma [53]yes [54]
 EtoposideTopoisomerase inhibitor [55], mPTP opener [46]Gastric [56], Kaposi’s sarcoma [57], lung [58]yes [59]
 LonidamineHexokinase inhibitor [60], mPTP opener [61]Brain, lung, ovarian [60]no
 PaclitaxelMicrotubule stabilizer [62], mPTP opener [63]Breast [64], head and neck [65], Kaposi's sarcoma [66], lung [67], ovarian [68]yes [69]
 VinorelbineMicrotubule formation inhibitor, mPTP opener [70]Breast [71], lung [72]yes [73]

Nucleophagy
 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosineDNA synthesis inhibitor [44, 45], mPTP opener [46]Leukemia [47], lymphoma [48]no
 CamptothecinTopoisomerase inhibitor [74]Gastric [75], lung [76], pancreatic [77]yes [78]
 CisplatinDNA intercalating agent [79]Ovarian [68], lung [68]yes [80]
 EtoposideTopoisomerase inhibitor [55], mPTP opener [46]Lung [58], gastric [56], Kaposi’s sarcoma [57]yes [59]

Ubiquitin-mediated autophagy
 BortezomibProteasome inhibitor [8183]Mantle cell lymphoma [84], multiple myeloma [85]yes [8183]
 NPI-0052Proteasome inhibitor [86]Leukemia [87], multiple myeloma [88]yes [86]