Autophagy is a “self-degradation” process whereby malfunctioned cytoplasmic constituents and protein aggregates are engulfed by a vesicle called the autophagosome, and subsequently degraded by the lysosome. Autophagy plays a crucial role in sustaining protein homeostasis and can be an alternative source of energy under detrimental circumstances. Studies have demonstrated a paradoxical function for autophagy in cancer, displaying both tumour suppressive and tumour promotive roles. In early phases of tumour development autophagy promotes cancer cell death. In later phases, autophagy enables cancer cells to survive and withstand therapy. Cannabinoids, which are derivatives of the Cannabis sativa L. plant, have shown to be associated with autophagy induction in cells. There is an emerging interest in studying the signalling pathways involved in cannabinoid-induced autophagy and their potential application in anticancer therapies. In this review, the molecular mechanisms involved in the autophagy degradation process will be discussed. This review also highlights a role for autophagy in cancer progression, with cannabinoid-induced autophagy presenting a novel strategy for anticancer therapy.

BackgroundParental beliefs about infant sleep shape caregiving practices, infant development, and parental wellbeing. The Views oN Infant Sleep (VNIS) questionnaire (Boedker et al., 2024) was designed to assess these beliefs across three domains: Closeness, Independence, and Night-Waking. This study aimed to validate the questionnaire for the first time in an Australian context, in a sample of 111 pregnant women.MethodsWomen completed an anonymous online questionnaire containing the 12-item VNIS. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted in MPlus, using a weighted least squares estimator to evaluate the proposed three-factor structure.ResultsFindings provided partial support for the three-factor model. Incremental and residual fit indices were strong (comparative fit index = 0.97; Tucker-Lewis index = 0.96; weighted root mean square residual = 0.76) and the chi-square to degrees-of-freedom ratio indicated acceptable fit (1.75). Global fit was borderline (root mean square error of approximation = 0.08, 90% confidence interval = 0.05–0.11). All items loaded significantly onto their intended factors, however item performance varied. Independence items showed consistently strong loadings, while Closeness items ranged from moderate to strong with one weaker indicator. Night-Waking items were more variable, including one item below acceptable thresholds. Inter-factor correlations were strong (r = 0.58-0.71), indicating substantial coherence and limited distinctiveness between components.ConclusionThe VNIS questionnaire captures multidimensional parental beliefs about infant sleep but requires refinement to strengthen reliability and discriminant validity. Further cross-cultural and longitudinal research is needed to support its broader applicability in diverse clinical and research contexts including to fathers and non-birthing partners.