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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
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Live-cell Imaging of Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization During Necroptosis
Published on: November 14, 2025
Lysosomal involvement in cell death and cancer
Thomas Kirkegaard1, Marja Jäättelä
1Danish Cancer Society, Department of Apoptosis, Institute of Cancer Biology, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|October 25, 2008
Summary
Lysosomes play a dual role in cancer, promoting and inhibiting tumor growth. Understanding these functions, especially lysosomal cell death pathways, offers new therapeutic strategies for oncology.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Lysosomes are cellular organelles containing degradative enzymes.
- Cellular transformation alters lysosomal function in cancer.
- These alterations have both pro- and anti-oncogenic implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the dual role of lysosomes in cancer.
- To explore the exploitation of lysosomal pathways in cancer therapy.
- To focus on lysosomal cell death pathways in oncology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of oncogenic and anti-oncogenic roles of lysosomes.
- Analysis of lysosomal alterations during cancer development.
- Examination of lysosomal cell death mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Lysosomal changes in cancer can promote tumor progression.
- Cancer cells exhibit susceptibility to lysosomal-mediated cell death.
- Lysosomal pathways represent a potential therapeutic target.
Conclusions:
- Lysosomes possess significant pro- and anti-oncogenic potential.
- Targeting lysosomal cell death pathways is a promising cancer therapy strategy.
- Further research into lysosome-targeted therapies is warranted.
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