Endocytosis in cancer and cancer therapy

Endocytosis is a complex process in which cells internalize proteins, lipids, and fluid from the surrounding environment. It is also involved in the internalization of drugs into cells. Different routes of endocytosis determine the fate of molecules, including degradation in lysosomes or recycling back to the cell membrane. The rates of endocytosis and the timing of molecules passing through these pathways are important for cellular signaling. Various factors, such as specific amino acid sequences and post-translational modifications, are involved in endocytosis. Disruptions in endocytosis are common in cancer and can result in the abnormal retention of receptor tyrosine kinases on tumor cell membranes, changes in the recycling of oncogenic molecules, impaired signaling feedback loops, and loss of cell polarity. In recent years, endocytosis has been recognized as a critical regulator of nutrient uptake, immune surveillance and evasion, tumor metastasis, and the delivery of therapeutic drugs. This review provides an overview of these advances in our understanding of endocytosis in cancer and discusses the potential for targeting these pathways to improve cancer therapy.