Targeting necroptosis as an alternative strategy in tumor treatment: From drugs to nanoparticles
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Published on: December 15, 2010
Xinlong Zang1, Jinxiao Song1, Yanfeng Li1
1School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Ningxia Road 308, Qingdao, PR China.
Abstract:
Over last decades, most antitumor therapeutic strategies have focused on apoptosis, however, apoptosis resistance and immunological silence usually led to treatment failure. In this sense, triggering other programmed cell death such as necroptosis may achieve a better therapeutic efficacy and has gained widespread attentions in tumor therapy. Studies in this field have identified several types of necroptosis modulators and highlighted the therapeutic potential of necroptotic cell death in cancer. Nanoparticles further provide possibilities to improve therapeutic outcomes as an efficient drug delivery system, facilitating tumor targeting and controlled cargo release. Furthermore, some nanoparticles themselves can trigger/promote programmed necrosis through hyperthermia, ultrasound and autophagy blockage. These investigations have entered necroptosis for consideration as a promising strategy for tumor therapy, though numerous challenges remain and clinical applications are still distant. In this review, we would briefly introduce molecular mechanism and characteristics of necroptosis, and then summarize recent progress of programmed necrosis and their inducers in tumor therapy. Furthermore, the antitumor strategies that take advantages of nanoparticles to induce necroptosis are also discussed.
Insights
Targeting necroptosis (programmed cell death) offers a promising alternative to apoptosis-resistant cancer therapies. Nanoparticles enhance this strategy by improving drug delivery and directly inducing necroptosis for improved tumor treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Nanomedicine
Background:
- Traditional antitumor strategies targeting apoptosis often fail due to resistance and lack of immune response.
- Necroptosis, a distinct form of programmed cell death, presents a promising alternative for overcoming apoptosis resistance in cancer therapy.
- Nanoparticles offer advanced drug delivery systems for enhanced tumor targeting and controlled release of therapeutic agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular mechanisms and characteristics of necroptosis.
- To summarize recent advancements in using necroptosis inducers for cancer therapy.
- To discuss nanoparticle-based strategies for inducing necroptosis in tumors.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of necroptosis mechanisms, modulators, and nanoparticle applications in cancer.
- Analysis of studies on programmed necrosis induction via nanoparticles (e.g., hyperthermia, ultrasound, autophagy inhibition).
- Synthesis of current research on necroptosis-targeted antitumor strategies.
Main Results:
- Necroptosis modulators and their therapeutic potential in cancer have been identified.
- Nanoparticles can enhance necroptosis induction and improve drug delivery for cancer treatment.
- Several nanoparticle-based approaches can directly trigger or promote necroptosis.
Conclusions:
- Necroptosis is a viable and promising strategy for cancer therapy, particularly for apoptosis-resistant tumors.
- Nanoparticle-mediated induction of necroptosis holds significant potential for improving antitumor efficacy.
- Further research and clinical translation are needed to overcome existing challenges for widespread application.
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