Ferroptosis in Cancer Treatment: Another Way to Rome

Abstract

Ferroptosis is a newly described type of programmed cell death and intensively related to both maintaining homeostasis and the development of diseases, especially cancers. Inducing ferroptosis leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and toxic lipid peroxidation in cells, which plays a pivotal role in suppressing cancer growth and progression. Here, we reviewed the existing studies about the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis involved in different antitumor treatments, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. We focused in particular on the distinct combinatorial therapeutic effects such as the synergistic sensitization effect and the drug-resistance reversal achieved when using ferroptosis inducers with conventional cancer therapy. Finally, we discussed the challenges and opportunities in clinical applications of ferroptosis. The application of nanotechnolgy and other novel technologies may provide a new direction in ferroptosis-driven cancer therapies.

WITHDRAWN: High SLC7A11 Expression Is Correlated With Poor Prognosis and Associated With Ferroptosis in Ovarian Cancer 

“…Numerous basic and clinical studies have found that the level of lipid reactive oxygen species in tumor cells is higher than that of normal cells [26,27].Recently, ferroptosis, which involves lipid reactive oxygen species, has been proposed to be a potential therapeutic target for cancer [28].…”

A Novel Ferroptosis-Associated Gene Signature to Predict Prognosis in Patients with Uveal Melanoma

“…The process of ferroptosis is usually accompanied by a large amount of iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation [ 7 ]. This is closely related to the maintenance of homeostasis and the development of diseases, especially cancer [ 8 ]. The induction of ferroptosis leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and toxic lipid peroxidation in cells, which play a key role in inhibiting the growth and development of cancer [ 8 ].…”

“…This is closely related to the maintenance of homeostasis and the development of diseases, especially cancer [ 8 ]. The induction of ferroptosis leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and toxic lipid peroxidation in cells, which play a key role in inhibiting the growth and development of cancer [ 8 ]. In the past few years, ferroptosis has been found to be a promising trigger option for cancer cell death, especially for malignant tumors that are resistant to traditional therapies [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Regulated Necrotic Cell Death in Alternative Tumor Therapeutic Strategies

“…Cotreatment of ESCC with cisplatin and BI2536, a polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) inhibitor, caused pyroptosis in vitro and in vivo [ 149 ]. Combined treatment of hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma (HPSCC) cells with paclitaxel and RSL3 reduced the viability of the cells via ferroptosis [ 150 ]. Therefore, combination therapy adjusted to cancer properties may be an alternative therapeutic strategy for drug-resistant cancer types.…”