A Compendium of Information on the Lysosome

For a long time, lysosomes were considered as mere waste bags for cellular constituents. Thankfully, studies carried out in the past 15 years were brimming with elegant and crucial breakthroughs in lysosome research, uncovering their complex roles as nutrient sensors and characterizing them as crucial multifaceted signaling organelles. This review presents the scientific knowledge on lysosome physiology and functions, starting with their discovery and reviewing up to date ground-breaking discoveries highlighting their heterogeneous functions as well as pending questions that remain to be answered. We also review the roles of lysosomes in anti-cancer drug resistance and how they undergo a series of molecular and functional changes during malignant transformation which lead to tumor aggression, angiogenesis, and metastases. Finally, we discuss the strategy of targeting lysosomes in cancer which could lead to the development of new and effective targeted therapies.

Automated summary

Lysosomes have been revealed as crucial multifaceted signaling organelles rather than mere waste bags through research in the past 15 years. They play roles in anti-cancer drug resistance and are involved in a series of molecular and functional changes during malignant transformation leading to tumor aggression, angiogenesis, and metastases. Targeting lysosomes in cancer may lead to the development of new and effective targeted therapies.