Chloroquine anticancer activity is mediated by autophagy-independent effects on the tumor vasculature.
Chloroquine is used clinically as an autophagy blocker to potentiate anticancer treatments. However, whether chloroquine acts solely through autophagy-dependent and cancer cell autonomous mechanisms has remained elusive. In a recent study we found that chloroquine reduced intratumoral hypoxia and metastasis, while improving chemotherapy response, largely through an autophagy-independent, NOTCH1-reliant mechanism of tumor vessel normalization.
Department Cellular and Molecular Medicine; Laboratory of Cell Death and Therapy ; KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Hannelore
H
Maes
Department of Oncology; Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link; KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Vesalius Research Center; Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link; VIB, Leuven, Belgium.
Anna
A
Kuchnio
Department of Oncology; Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link; KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Vesalius Research Center; Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Neurovascular Link; VIB, Leuven, Belgium.
Peter
P
Carmeliet
Department Cellular and Molecular Medicine; Laboratory of Cell Death and Therapy ; KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Patrizia
P
Agostinis
ATG5; NOTCH1; anticancer therapy; autophagy; chloroquine; clinical trials; melanoma; vessel normalization