Autophagy: A Targeting Tool for Prevention and Control of Breast Carcinoma and Role of Phytoconstituents

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among women worldwide, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. Autophagy, a critical cellular degradation pathway, plays a dual role in cancer, acting both as a tumor suppressor and a survival mechanism under stress conditions. This review explores autophagy's complex role in breast cancer progression, prevention, and treatment, emphasizing its potential as a therapeutic target. Special focus is given to the modulation of autophagy by natural phytoconstituents, which have shown promise in both preventing and controlling breast cancer. Several phytochemicals, including curcumin, resveratrol, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), exhibit significant anticancer properties by regulating autophagic pathways. The potential of these compounds to inhibit or enhance autophagy underscores their value in breast cancer treatment, particularly in overcoming chemoresistance. This review discusses recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of autophagy in cancer and highlights the therapeutic potential of autophagy modulation through phytochemicals in breast cancer management.