Mammalian cells harness autophagy to eliminate physiological byproducts of metabolism and cope with microenvironmental perturbations. Moreover, autophagy connects cellular adaptation with extracellular circuitries that impinge on immunity and metabolism. As it links transformed and non-transformed components of the tumour microenvironment, such an autophagic network is important for cancer initiation, progression and response to therapy. Here, we discuss the mechanisms whereby the autophagic network interfaces with multiple aspects of malignant disease.
