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Updated: Mar 3, 2026

Live-cell Imaging of Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization During Necroptosis
Published on: November 14, 2025
Necroptosis and Cancer
Ayaz Najafov1, Hongbo Chen1,2, Junying Yuan1
1Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, 240 Longwood Ave. Boston, MA 02115.
Abstract:
Necroptosis is a programmed lytic cell death pathway, deregulation of which is linked to various inflammatory disorders. Escape from programmed cell death and inflammation play a significant role in cancer, and therefore, investigating the role of necroptosis in cancer has been of high interest. Necroptosis has been shown to promote cancer metastasis and T cells death. Escape from necroptosis via loss of RIPK3 expression is a feature of some cancers. While necroptosis is a promising novel target for cancer therapies, further investigation into its biological role in carcinogenesis is warranted. In this article, we review the recently-identified interplay points between necroptosis and cancer, and outline major biological questions that require further inquiry on the road to targeting this pathway in cancer.
Insights
Necroptosis, a programmed cell death, is implicated in cancer progression and inflammation. Understanding its role is key to developing novel cancer therapies targeting this cell death pathway.
Area of Science:
- * Molecular Biology
- * Immunology
- * Oncology
Background:
- * Necroptosis is a programmed lytic cell death pathway implicated in inflammatory disorders.
- * Deregulation of programmed cell death and inflammation are significant factors in cancer development.
- * Investigating necroptosis in cancer is crucial due to its role in metastasis and T cell death.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To review the interplay between necroptosis and cancer.
- * To outline key biological questions for targeting necroptosis in cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- * Literature review of recent studies on necroptosis and cancer.
- * Analysis of the biological roles and therapeutic potential of necroptosis.
Main Results:
- * Necroptosis can promote cancer metastasis and T cell death.
- * Loss of RIPK3 expression is a mechanism for escaping necroptosis in some cancers.
- * Necroptosis represents a promising, yet under-investigated, target for cancer therapies.
Conclusions:
- * Further research into necroptosis's biological role in carcinogenesis is warranted.
- * Targeting necroptosis holds potential for novel cancer treatment strategies.
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