Regulation of Autophagy by Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Cancer

Cancer is the leading cause of death, placing a substantial global health burden. The development of the most effective treatment regimen is the unmet clinical need for cancer. Inflammation plays a role in tumorigenesis and progression, and anti-inflammation may be a promising option for cancer management and prevention. Emerging studies have shown that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) display anticarcinogenic and chemopreventive properties through the regulation of autophagy in certain types of cancer. In this review, we summarize the pharmacological functions and side effects of NSAIDs as chemotherapeutic agents, and focus on its mode of action on autophagy regulation, which increases our knowledge of NSAIDs and cancer-related inflammation, and contributes to a putative addition of NSAIDs in the chemoprevention and treatment of cancer.