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Live-cell Imaging of Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization During Necroptosis
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Live-cell Imaging of Lysosomal Membrane Permeabilization During Necroptosis

Published on: November 14, 2025

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Necroptosis in cancer: An angel or a demon?

Tianzhen Wang1, Yinji Jin1, Weiwei Yang1

  • 11 Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.

Tumour Biology : the Journal of the International Society for Oncodevelopmental Biology and Medicine
|June 28, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Necroptosis, a regulated necrosis, plays a dual role in cancer. While it can induce cancer cell death, it may also promote proliferation and metastasis in surviving cells.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Apoptosis was historically considered the sole programmed cell death pathway.
  • Necroptosis, a regulated necrosis, has emerged as a critical alternative cell death mechanism.
  • Key regulators of necroptosis include RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the fundamental mechanisms of necroptosis.
  • To elucidate the multifaceted role of necroptosis in cancer development and progression.
  • To analyze the clinical implications and therapeutic potential of targeting necroptosis in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of necroptosis research.
  • Analysis of studies investigating necroptosis in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis.
  • Evaluation of necroptosis-associated biomarkers and therapeutic strategies.

Main Results:

  • Necroptosis acts as a "fail-safe" cell death mechanism, crucial for development and immunity.
  • Elevated necroptosis can paradoxically promote cancer by inducing inflammation, ROS generation, and immune suppression in surviving cells.
  • The net effect of necroptosis on cancer is complex, with both tumor-suppressive and tumor-promoting roles.

Conclusions:

  • Necroptosis presents a complex interplay with cancer, offering both challenges and opportunities for therapy.
  • Understanding the dual role of necroptosis is essential for developing effective cancer treatments.
  • Targeting necroptosis pathways may offer novel therapeutic avenues, but requires careful consideration of context-dependent effects.
Keywords:
Cancer progressionchemotherapymetastasisproliferation

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