Cell autophagy could not only inhibit but also promote tumor growth, which plays an important role in the occurrence, development, and clinical prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The low-level and basic autophagy is conducive to its cell metabolism and self-protection, which is one of the major factors in NPC radio- or chemo-therapy resistance, while high-level and excessive autophagy could lead to the autophagic cell death, which is the foundation of NPC treatment based on autophagic target. The research and application of autophagy modulators is the key link to realize the regulation of autophagy level. Autophagy inhibitors or inducers can enhance sensitization to radio- or chemo-therapy and even induce autophagic death of NPC cells. The mechanism of action of autophagy in NPC is, however, very complex and not yet fully understood up to now. Here, we reviewed the research progress in autophagy and its potential value in NPC radiotherapy in order to explore the prospect of autophagy as a new target for NPC treatment, especially therapeutic autophagic cell death in NPC induced by X-ray as an autophagy modulator.%自噬对鼻咽癌(Nasopharyngeal carcinoma,NPC)具有抑瘤和促瘤双重作用.自噬在NPC发生、发展及转归中起重要作用:低水平、基础自噬有利于细胞的自我保护与新陈代谢,是NPC放、化疗抵抗的重要因素之一;高水平、过度自噬则可导致自噬性细胞死亡,是基于自噬靶点的NPC治疗基础.自噬剂的研发与应用是实现自噬水平调控的关键环节,自噬抑制剂或自噬诱导剂可增敏NPC放、化疗甚至诱导其自噬性细胞死亡,但其作用机理颇为复杂且迄今尚未完全明了.本文着重综述自噬与NPC放疗研究进展,并探讨自噬作为新靶点的NPC治疗前景,尤其X射线作为自噬剂以诱导NPC发生治疗性的自噬性细胞死亡.
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