Epigenetic regulation of autophagy: A key modification in cancer cells and cancer stem cells

Figure 3 Epigenetic modulation of autophagy in resistance cancer cells and cancer stem cells. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a heterogenous collection of different cells that acquire genetic aberrations and epigenetic modifications during carcinogenesis. The protective role of autophagy in CSCs facilitates radio/chemotherapeutic resistance. Targeting specific epigenetic alterations could potentially repress autophagy and sensitize the CSCs population to cell death. CC: Cancer cell; TIL: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.