Role of autophagy‑modulating long non‑coding RNAs in tumor radioresistance (Review).

Radiotherapy improves survival rates in patients with cancer; however, the development of radioresistance hinders its effectiveness, resulting in unfavorable outcomes. A key factor in cancer progression is the dysregulation of autophagy, a lysosomal degradation process governed by various evolutionarily conserved autophagy‑related genes (ATGs). Long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve a crucial role in the regulation of autophagy. lncRNAs modulate ATGs and their signaling pathways, contributing to the emergence of radioresistance. The present review offers a comprehensive examination of the critical roles of autophagy and lncRNAs in mediating radioresistance. By enhancing the understanding of these mechanisms, novel therapeutic strategies aimed at increasing tumor radiosensitivity through the modulation of autophagy may be revealed.