Abstract
Autophagy is the main cellular degradation pathway for the clearance of damaged or superfluous proteins and organelles and represents the principle catabolic process regulating cellular homeostasis and organelle and protein turnover. Besides its role in cellular homeostasis, autophagy can be a form of programmed cell death or play a cytoprotective role, for example in situations of nutrient starvation. Accordingly, autophagy plays a dual role in cancer as this cellular process may help to overcome the stress evoked at the initial steps of tumorigenesis or work as a tumor suppressor mechanism. Moreover, different anticancer treatments activate autophagy in tumor cells, which either enhance cancer cell death or act as a mechanism of resistance to chemotherapy. Prior work by our group showed that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the main active component of marijuana) triggers autophagy-mediated cancer cell death. In this presentation I will summarize several recent findings supporting that the modification of the sphingolipid metabolism of cancer cells by cannabinoids plays a pivotal role in the stimulation of autophagy-mediated cancer cell death.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
