Targeting Autophagy in Cancer: Update on Clinical Trials and Novel Inhibitors.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Qualitative review of preclinical literature and early clinical trials without pooled randomized trial data
PubMed 28621712 · doi:10.3390/ijms18061279
What was done
The authors reviewed the preclinical rationale and clinical trial landscape for targeting autophagy in cancer, focusing on hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use alone and in combination regimens, as well as novel inhibitors in preclinical development.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative clinical data or effect sizes. It qualitatively notes that preclinical evidence shows HCQ enhances tumor shrinkage alone and in combination therapies, providing the basis for ongoing clinical trials.
Why it matters
Targeting autophagy serves as an adjunctive therapeutic strategy to overcome cancer treatment resistance, with hydroxychloroquine representing the primary clinically available agent currently being evaluated.
Limits
The abstract provides no quantitative clinical outcome data, trial sample sizes, or details regarding the specific search parameters and included studies.
Cited by
- supports Clinical trials testing chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy to treat cancer have not produced convincing results.