Background:Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy arising from the nasopharyngeal mucosa. Despite treatment advances such as the use of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors, resistance remains a significant clinical challenge. Many tumours are also diagnosed at an advanced stage associated with poor prognosis.Objective:This review aims to explore the biological roles of autophagy in NPC, primarily highlighting its involvement in disease pathogenesis and treatment resistance.Methods:We performed a review of the recent literature examining the role of autophagy-related pathways in NPC pathogenesis, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic targeting.Results:Autophagy plays a dual role in NPC as it contributes to both tumour suppression and progression. It is involved in tumour initiation, metastasis, immune modulation, and treatment resistance. Autophagy-related genes such as SQSTM1, Beclin-1, and AURKA may serve as prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers. Various strategies are being investigated for their role to modulate autophagy using pharmacologic inhibitors, RNA interventions, and natural compounds.Conclusions:Further research into autophagy’s context-dependent roles in NPC may inform the development of personalised therapies and allow progress in translational and precision oncology.
背景：鼻咽癌是一种起源于鼻咽黏膜上皮的恶性肿瘤。尽管调强放疗和免疫检查点抑制剂等治疗手段不断进步，耐药性仍是临床面临的重要挑战。许多患者在确诊时已处于晚期，预后较差。 目的：本综述旨在探讨自噬在鼻咽癌中的生物学作用，重点阐述其在疾病发生机制和治疗耐药中的参与。 方法：通过系统回顾近年文献，分析自噬相关通路在鼻咽癌发病机制、生物标志物发现及治疗靶向中的作用。 结果：自噬在鼻咽癌中具有双重作用，既能抑制肿瘤发展，又能促进肿瘤进展。它参与肿瘤发生、转移、免疫调节和治疗耐药过程。SQSTM1、Beclin-1、AURKA等自噬相关基因可作为预后和治疗生物标志物。目前正在研究通过药物抑制剂、RNA干预和天然化合物调控自噬的治疗策略。 结论：进一步研究自噬在鼻咽癌中的情境依赖性作用，可为个体化治疗方案的开发提供依据，推动转化医学和精准肿瘤学的发展。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家