Autophagy has recently been implicated in both the prevention and progression of cancer.
However, the molecular basis for the relationship between autophagy induction and the
initial acquisition of malignancy is currently unknown. Here, we provide the first evidence
that autophagy is essential for oncogenic K-Ras (K-Ras V12)-induced malignant cell
transformation. Retroviral expression of K-Ras V12 induced autophagic vacuole formation
and malignant transformation in human breast epithelial cells. Interestingly, pharmacological …