Mitophagy: A novel perspective for insighting into cancer and cancer treatment

BACKGROUND: Mitophagy refers to the selective self‐elimination of mitochondria under damaged or certain developmental conditions. As an important regulatory mechanism to remove damaged mitochondria and maintain the internal and external cellular balance, mitophagy plays pivotal roles in carcinogenesis and progression as well as treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we combined data from recent years to comprehensively describe the regulatory mechanisms of mitophagy and its multifaceted significance in cancer, and discusse the potential of targeted mitophagy as a cancer treatment strategy. RESULTS: The molecular mechanisms regulating mitophagy are complex, diverse, and cross‐talk. Inducing or blocking mitophagy has the same or completely different effects in different cancer contexts. Mitophagy plays an indispensable role in regulating cancer metabolic reprogramming, cell stemness, and chemotherapy resistance for better adaptation to tumor microenvironment. In cancer cell biology, mitophagy is considered to be a double‐edged sword. And to fully understand the role of mitophagy in cancer development can provide new targets for cancer treatment in clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: This review synthesizes a large body of data to comprehensively describe the molecular mechanisms of mitophagy and its multidimensional significance in cancer and cancer treatment, which will undoubtedly deepen the understanding of mitophagy.