Role of autophagy on cancer immune escape

Autophagy is catabolic process by degradation of intracellular components in lysosome including proteins, lipids, and mitochondria in response to nutrient deficiency or stress such as hypoxia or chemotherapy. Increasing evidence suggests that autophagy could induce immune checkpoint proteins (PD-L1, MHC-I/II) degradation of cancer cells, which play an important role in regulating cancer cell immune escape. In addition to autophagic degradation of immune checkpoint proteins, autophagy induction in immune cells (macrophages, dendritic cells) manipulates antigen presentation and T cell activity. These reports suggest that autophagy could negatively or positively regulate cancer cell immune escape by immune checkpoint protein and antigens degradation, cytokines release, antigens generation. These controversial phenomenon of autophagy on cancer cell immune evasion may be derived from different experimental context or models. In addition, autophagy maybe exhibit a role in regulating host excessive immune response. So rational combination with autophagy could enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. In this review, the current progress of autophagy on cancer immune escape is discussed. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-021-00769-0.