Endocytosis is a complex process whereby cell surface proteins, lipids and fluid from the extracellular environment are packaged, sorted and internalized into cells. Endocytosis is also a mechanism of drug internalization into cells. There are multiple routes of endocytosis that determine the fate of molecules, from degradation in the lysosomes to recycling back to the plasma membrane. The overall rates of endocytosis and temporal regulation of molecules transiting through endocytic pathways are also intricately linked with signalling outcomes. This process relies on an array of factors, such as intrinsic amino acid motifs and post-translational modifications. Endocytosis is frequently disrupted in cancer. These disruptions lead to inappropriate retention of receptor tyrosine kinases on the tumour cell membrane, changes in the recycling of oncogenic molecules, defective signalling feedback loops and loss of cell polarity. In the past decade, endocytosis has emerged as a pivotal regulator of nutrient scavenging, response to and regulation of immune surveillance and tumour immune evasion, tumour metastasis and therapeutic drug delivery. This Review summarizes and integrates these advances into the understanding of endocytosis in cancer. The potential to regulate these pathways in the clinic to improve cancer therapy is also discussed.

内吞作用是一个复杂的过程，细胞表面蛋白、脂质和来自细胞外环境的液体被包装、分类并内化到细胞中。内吞作用也是药物内化到细胞中的一种机制。内吞作用有多种途径决定分子的命运，从溶酶体中的降解到再循环回质膜。内吞作用的总体速率和分子通过内吞途径的时间调节也与信号转导结果密切相关。这个过程依赖于一系列因素，例如内在氨基酸基序和翻译后修饰。癌症中的内吞作用经常被破坏。这些破坏导致受体酪氨酸激酶不适当地保留在肿瘤细胞膜上，致癌分子循环的变化、信号反馈回路的缺陷和细胞极性的丧失。在过去的十年中，内吞作用已成为营养物清除、免疫监视和肿瘤免疫逃避的反应和调节、肿瘤转移和治疗药物输送的关键调节剂。本综述总结了这些进展并将其整合到对癌症内吞作用的理解中。还讨论了在临床上调节这些途径以改善癌症治疗的潜力。本综述总结了这些进展并将其整合到对癌症内吞作用的理解中。还讨论了在临床上调节这些途径以改善癌症治疗的潜力。本综述总结了这些进展并将其整合到对癌症内吞作用的理解中。还讨论了在临床上调节这些途径以改善癌症治疗的潜力。