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Updated: Nov 12, 2025
Author Spotlight: Flow Cytometric Determination of Pyroptosis in Avian Cells
Published on: May 31, 2024
Role of pyroptosis in cancer cells and clinical applications
Xiaoli Ju1, Zhilong Yang2, Heng Zhang2
1School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
Abstract:
Chemotherapy drugs usually inhibit tumor cell growth through the apoptosis pathway. However, tumor cells become resistant to chemotherapy drugs by evading apoptosis. It is necessary to find new ways to inhibit tumor growth through other types of death. Pyroptosis is a recently identified inflammatory cell death that plays an important role in a variety of diseases, including cancer. In this review, we will systematically review recent progress in the pyroptosis signaling pathway, the role of inflammasomes in cancer in the context of pyroptosis, the role of gasdermin proteins in cancer and the role of pyroptosis in tumor immunity. We will also discuss the application of the pyroptosis pathway in clinical studies. Finally, we hope to provide new strategies for pyroptosis in the clinic.
Insights
Tumor cells resist chemotherapy by evading apoptosis. This review explores pyroptosis, an inflammatory cell death pathway, as a novel strategy to inhibit tumor growth and enhance anti-cancer immunity for clinical applications.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Chemotherapy resistance in cancer often involves tumor cells evading apoptosis.
- Novel cell death mechanisms are needed to overcome therapeutic resistance.
- Pyroptosis, a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death, is implicated in cancer progression and immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review recent advancements in the pyroptosis signaling pathway.
- To elucidate the roles of inflammasomes and gasdermin proteins in pyroptosis within cancer.
- To discuss the implications of pyroptosis in tumor immunity and its clinical applications.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pyroptosis signaling pathways.
- Analysis of inflammasome and gasdermin protein functions in cancer.
- Examination of pyroptosis's role in anti-tumor immunity.
- Review of clinical studies involving pyroptosis.
Main Results:
- Pyroptosis represents a promising alternative to apoptosis for cancer treatment.
- Inflammasomes and gasdermin proteins are key mediators of pyroptosis in cancer.
- Pyroptosis can modulate the tumor microenvironment and enhance anti-tumor immune responses.
- Emerging clinical evidence supports pyroptosis-targeting therapies.
Conclusions:
- Pyroptosis offers a novel therapeutic avenue for overcoming chemotherapy resistance.
- Targeting pyroptosis pathways, inflammasomes, and gasdermins holds potential for cancer treatment.
- Further clinical investigation is warranted to translate pyroptosis research into effective cancer therapies.
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