Seminar

Autophagy dependence for tumor growth

Tor Erik Rusten, PhD

Intracellular self-consumption of cytoplasm and organelles occurs by the process of autophagy. During autophagy, cytoplasmic cargo is captured by double membrane vesicles and delivered to the lysosome where the content is degraded and macromolecular building blocks recycled. Autophagic activity is regulated by a range of stress-activated pathways that are also contributing to carcinogenesis. This includes hypoxia-, reactive oxygen species-, JNK-, nutrient and insulin growth factor receptor signaling. The relationship between autophagy and carcinogenesis is complex and both pro tumor and anti tumor growth effects have been characterized in vitro. Little is known, however, about the requirements for autophagy during tumor growth in vivo. Dr. Rusten's group has investigated the potential regulation and function of autophagy in tumor and non-tumor cells during malignant tumor growth in Drosophila and defined both cell autonomous and non-autonomous requirements for tumor growth.