Navigating the autophagic landscape: Epigenetic modulation in gastrointestinal cancer

Figure 1 Autophagy has a dual nature in cancer, exhibiting both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting effects at different stages of the disease, which influences responses to anticancer treatments. Dysregulation of autophagy-related genes (ATGs), epigenetic modifications, and non-coding RNAs emerge as crucial regulators. These factors influence autophagy flux, thereby affecting treatment responses and tumor progression, highlighting the intricate regulation by oncogenes and tumor suppressors. ROS: Reactive oxygen species. Original figure generated by Biorender.com.