Autophagy in arsenic carcinogenesis

Chronic exposure to arsenic may cause cancer. Many mechanisms have been suggested for arsenic carcinogenesis. Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved cellular catabolic mechanism, has been implicated in cancer biology. Although being claimed as a type of cell death, autophagy may actually serve as a cell self-defense mechanism. In this review article, current understandings of the mechanisms of arsenic carcinogenesis, functions of autophagy and the role of autophagy in arsenic carcinogenesis are discussed.