Current evidence and therapeutic implication of PANoptosis in cancer

Abstract

Regulated cell death (RCD) is considered a critical pathway in cancer therapy, contributing to eliminating cancer cells and influencing treatment outcomes. The application of RCD in cancer treatment is marked by its potential in targeted therapy and immunotherapy. As a type of RCD, PANoptosis has emerged as a unique form of programmed cell death (PCD) characterized by features of pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis but cannot be fully explained by any of these pathways alone. It is regulated by a multi-protein complex called the PANoptosome. As a relatively new concept first described in 2019, PANoptosis has been shown to play a role in many diseases, including cancer, infection, and inflammation. This study reviews the application of PCD in cancer, particularly the emergence and implication of PANoptosis in developing therapeutic strategies for cancer. Studies have shown that the characterization of PANoptosis patterns in cancer can predict survival and response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, highlighting the potential for PANoptosis to be used as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment. It also plays a role in limiting the spread of cancer cells. PANoptosis allows for the elimination of cancer cells by multiple cell death pathways and has the potential to address various challenges in cancer treatment, including drug resistance and immune evasion. Moreover, active investigation of the mechanisms and potential therapeutic agents that can induce PANoptosis in cancer cells is likely to yield effective cancer treatments and improve patient outcomes. Research on PANoptosis is still ongoing, but it is a rapidly evolving field with the potential to lead to new treatments for various diseases, including cancer.

Cuproptosis: Unraveling the Mechanisms of Copper-Induced Cell Death and Its Implication in Cancer Therapy

“…Cancer cells exhibit a remarkable ability to evade the tightly regulated pathways of cellular death, a hallmark feature of their malignancy [115]. This evasion has posed a challenge within cancer therapies as the resistance of cancer cells to programmed cell death pathways diminishes treatment efficacy [116]. However, cuproptosis presents a potential opportunity for overcoming this resistance and promoting cell death in cancer cells.…”

Integrating PANoptosis insights to enhance breast cancer prognosis and therapeutic decision-making

“…This process is crucial for maintaining the body’s balance and defending against diseases by removing harmful cells ( 5 ). Intriguingly, PANoptosis has been implicated in the progression of various diseases, including cancer, highlighting its potential as a target for innovative treatments ( 6 ). For example, research has indicated that manipulating PANoptosis pathways could influence the development of tumors and the effectiveness of cancer therapies ( 7 ).…”

PANoptosis-related genes function as efficient prognostic biomarkers in colon adenocarcinoma

“…Moreover, targeting these cell death pathways have shown promising effects in cancer treatment ( 24 – 26 ). Although there are studies demonstrating that identifying PANoptosis patterns in cancer can predict survival and response to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, and regulating PANoptosis-related genes and proteins can promote cancer cell death and improve therapy outcomes, now the research on PANoptosis and cancer is just in its infancy ( 27 ). Given this, it is necessary to investigate the potential association between PANoptosis and cancers.…”