The article discusses the dual role of autophagy in cancer, highlighting its importance in both tumor suppression and tumor cell survival. Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway that breaks down intracellular proteins and organelles, maintaining cellular homeostasis and stress tolerance. In normal cells, autophagy helps manage energy and metabolic stress, while in tumors, it supports tumor cell survival under hypoxic and nutrient-deprived conditions. However, autophagy defects are also found in many human tumors, potentially contributing to tumorigenesis. The article explores how autophagy can limit cell death and inflammation, which can be pro-tumorigenic, and how it protects the genome from damage, which can prevent tumorigenesis. It also discusses the potential therapeutic targeting of autophagy in cancer, including the use of autophagy inhibitors and the combination of autophagy inhibition with other therapies to enhance cytotoxicity. The article concludes by emphasizing the need to understand the functional status of autophagy in tumors to develop effective cancer treatments.The article discusses the dual role of autophagy in cancer, highlighting its importance in both tumor suppression and tumor cell survival. Autophagy is a lysosomal degradation pathway that breaks down intracellular proteins and organelles, maintaining cellular homeostasis and stress tolerance. In normal cells, autophagy helps manage energy and metabolic stress, while in tumors, it supports tumor cell survival under hypoxic and nutrient-deprived conditions. However, autophagy defects are also found in many human tumors, potentially contributing to tumorigenesis. The article explores how autophagy can limit cell death and inflammation, which can be pro-tumorigenic, and how it protects the genome from damage, which can prevent tumorigenesis. It also discusses the potential therapeutic targeting of autophagy in cancer, including the use of autophagy inhibitors and the combination of autophagy inhibition with other therapies to enhance cytotoxicity. The article concludes by emphasizing the need to understand the functional status of autophagy in tumors to develop effective cancer treatments.