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Targeting PI3-Kinases in Modulating Autophagy and Anti-cancer Therapy

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Targeting Autophagy in Cancer Therapy

Part of the book series: Current Cancer Research ((CUCR))

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Abstract

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (hereafter referred to as PI3-kinases) are lipid kinases that phosphorylate the 3′-hydroxyl group of inositol lipids. The generated phospholipids are critical signaling molecules that recruit proteins to specific intracellular membranes leading to localized activation of these proteins. PI3-kinases regulate many cellular activities, and are closely linked to human diseases, including cancer. One molecular event regulated by PI3-kinases is autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved membrane trafficking process that degrades and recycles cellular constituents to maintain cell and tissue homeostasis. Over the past two decades, our understanding of PI3-kinases has progressed from pan-PI3-kinase inhibitor studies to isoform-specific genetic knockout and systems biology interactome analyses. Our view of autophagy has emerged from unicellular yeast vesicle trafficking to mammalian physiology and human diseases. In this chapter we summarize the major discoveries on autophagy regulation by PI3-kinases and discuss the therapeutic potentials of targeting PI3-kinases in modulating autophagy and in cancer therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epigenetics Program, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Zhixun Dou Ph.D.

  2. Department of Chemical Biology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

    Wei-Xing Zong Ph.D.

  3. Cancer Institute of New Jersey, 195 Little Albany Street, New Brunswick, NJ, 08903, USA

    Wei-Xing Zong Ph.D.

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  1. Zhixun Dou Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Wei-Xing Zong Ph.D. .

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  1. Department of Pharmacology, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA

    Jin-Ming Yang

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Dou, Z., Zong, WX. (2016). Targeting PI3-Kinases in Modulating Autophagy and Anti-cancer Therapy. In: Yang, JM. (eds) Targeting Autophagy in Cancer Therapy. Current Cancer Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42740-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-42740-9_5

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