Gallic acid suppresses the progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma through inducing autophagy via the PI3K/Akt/Atg16L1 signaling pathway

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common type of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), is not sensitive to traditional radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The polyphenolic compound Gallic acid (GA) can be naturally found in a variety of fruits, vegetables and plants. Autophagy, an intracellular catabolic process, regulates the lysosomal degradation of organelles and portions in cytoplasm. It was reported that autophagy and GA could affect the development of several cancers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of GA on ccRCC development and clarify the role of autophagy in this process. In the present study, the effects of GA on the proliferation, migration and invasion of ccRCC cells were investigated