Selective autophagy is a targeted process that degrades specific cellular components, such as damaged mitochondria, peroxisomes, and ER, through autophagosomes. It plays a crucial role in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, and therapeutic implications of selective autophagy in cancer. It highlights the importance of selective autophagy in cancer progression, including its role in cell survival, drug resistance, and metastasis. The review also discusses the potential of small-molecule compounds targeting selective autophagy for cancer therapy. Key receptors and signaling pathways involved in selective autophagy, such as mitophagy, ER-phagy, xenophagy, lipophagy, and pexophagy, are analyzed. The review emphasizes the dual role of selective autophagy in cancer, where it can both promote and inhibit tumor development. It also explores the therapeutic potential of targeting selective autophagy to improve cancer treatment outcomes. The review provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying selective autophagy and its implications for future cancer therapies.Selective autophagy is a targeted process that degrades specific cellular components, such as damaged mitochondria, peroxisomes, and ER, through autophagosomes. It plays a crucial role in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic disorders. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, and therapeutic implications of selective autophagy in cancer. It highlights the importance of selective autophagy in cancer progression, including its role in cell survival, drug resistance, and metastasis. The review also discusses the potential of small-molecule compounds targeting selective autophagy for cancer therapy. Key receptors and signaling pathways involved in selective autophagy, such as mitophagy, ER-phagy, xenophagy, lipophagy, and pexophagy, are analyzed. The review emphasizes the dual role of selective autophagy in cancer, where it can both promote and inhibit tumor development. It also explores the therapeutic potential of targeting selective autophagy to improve cancer treatment outcomes. The review provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying selective autophagy and its implications for future cancer therapies.