Figure 4.

The role of crosstalk between autophagy and inflammation in cancer. Induction of autophagy is a double-edged sword with both protumorigenic and antitumorigenic effects. Processes downstream of autophagy that influence tumor progression and treatment resistance are comprised of cell survival pathways and recruitment of innate immune cells following release of DAMPs by necrotic tumor cells. Conversely, antitumorigenic signaling is evoked by autophagy-mediated immunogenic cell death and inhibition of tumor-associated inflammation. An outstanding example of the diverse and apparently opposite effects of autophagy on cancer initiation and progression is the induction of cellular senescence and subsequent removal of senescent cells; depending on the cellular context this is either pro- or anti-tumorigenic. APC, antigen-presenting cell.