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Modes of Regulated Cell Death in Cancer

Elle Koren1, Yaron Fuchs2

  • 1Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Biology, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. Lorry Lokey Interdisciplinary Center for Life Sciences and Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.

Cancer Discovery
|January 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Regulated cell death (RCD) pathways are crucial for development and disease. Understanding these cell suicide mechanisms, like apoptosis and ferroptosis, offers new cancer treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Regulated cell death (RCD) pathways are fundamental to organismal development, tissue homeostasis, and disease processes.
  • Key RCD modalities include apoptosis, entosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, each with distinct molecular mechanisms.
  • RCD pathways play a dual role in cancer, acting as a defense against oncogenesis while also being exploited to drive tumor progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive overview of major regulated cell death modalities.
  • To explore the intricate relationship between RCD pathways and cancer development (oncogenesis).
  • To discuss current and novel therapeutic strategies targeting RCD for cancer elimination.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on RCD pathways.
  • Analysis of the mechanistic roles of apoptosis, entosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis in cancer.
  • Examination of therapeutic agents and strategies that modulate RCD.

Main Results:

  • RCD pathways are essential for eliminating damaged or unwanted cells, acting as a barrier against cancer.
  • Dysregulation of RCD can promote tumorigenesis, highlighting its complex role.
  • Various RCD pathways can be therapeutically activated to induce cancer cell death.

Conclusions:

  • Regulated cell death pathways are critical in cancer biology, serving as both a defense and a potential driver.
  • Targeting specific RCD modalities presents promising avenues for novel anti-cancer therapies.
  • Further research into selective RCD manipulation is essential for effective tumor eradication.

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