Ferroptosis Biology and Implication in Cancers

Abstract

Ferroptosis, a novel form of regulated cell death (RCD), has garnered increasing attention in studies on numerous human diseases in the last decade. Emerging evidence has indicated that the pathological process of ferroptosis involves the overloaded production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), followed by aberrant accumulation of lipid peroxidation in an iron-dependent manner, accompanied with an increased uptake of polyunsaturated fatty acids into the cellular membrane, further unfolding an ancient vulnerability in multiple context. The unique nature of ferroptosis differentiates it from other forms of RCD, as it is intricately associated with several biological processes, including the metabolism of iron, amino acids, synthesis of ROS and lipid peroxidation. Accordingly, inducers and inhibitors designed to target the key processes of ferroptosis have been extensively studied. Characterized by its distinct properties as mentioned above and its inducible nature, ferroptosis has been widely implicated in several diseases, and numerous studies have focused on identifying effective therapeutic targets for multiple human diseases, including in cancer, by targeting this process. In the present review, recent studies on the involvement of ferroptosis in several types of cancer are summarized and the findings discussed, highlighting the need for increased contemplation of its involvement in the study of cancer, particularly in the clinical setting. A comprehensive summary of the biological mechanisms underlying ferroptosis, the implications of the multiple inducers of ferroptosis, as well as immunotherapy targeting ferroptosis in different types of cancer is provided in this review to highlight the pathophysiological role of ferroptosis in carcinogenesis, to serve as an aid in future studies on the role of ferroptosis in cancer.