Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2025

Author Spotlight: Flow Cytometric Determination of Pyroptosis in Avian Cells
05:14

Author Spotlight: Flow Cytometric Determination of Pyroptosis in Avian Cells

Published on: May 31, 2024

1.3K

Cancer-associated pyroptosis: A new license to kill tumor

Qing Kong1, Zhibin Zhang1

  • 1Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.

Frontiers in Immunology
|February 6, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Pyroptosis, a cell death process, involves Gasdermin proteins. Emerging research highlights cancer-associated pyroptosis (CAP) as a therapeutic strategy to boost anti-tumor immunity.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular Biology
  • Immunology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Pyroptosis is programmed cell death mediated by Gasdermin (GSDM) proteins.
  • Activated GSDMs form pores in the cell membrane, causing cell lysis and releasing inflammatory signals.
  • Inflammasome-activated pyroptosis (IAP) protects against infection, while cancer-associated pyroptosis (CAP) shows potential in anti-tumor immunity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in cancer-associated pyroptosis (CAP).
  • To explore the mechanisms and outcomes of CAP in cancer cells.
  • To present CAP as a potential therapeutic strategy for enhancing anti-tumor immunity.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on pyroptosis and cancer.
  • Analysis of GSDM protein functions in both IAP and CAP.
  • Comparison of the distinct features of IAP and CAP.

Main Results:

  • Pyroptosis involves GSDM-mediated plasma membrane perforation.
  • CAP, distinct from IAP, is mediated by GSDMs in cancer cells.
  • CAP mechanisms, outcomes, and therapeutic potential are under active investigation.

Conclusions:

  • CAP represents a novel avenue for cancer immunotherapy.
  • Understanding CAP can lead to new therapeutic interventions to enhance anti-tumor immunity.
  • Further research into CAP is crucial for developing effective cancer treatments.
Keywords:
anti-tumor immunitygasdermininflammasomeinterleukin-1βkiller lymphocyteprogrammed cell deathpyroptosis

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: THP-1 Macrophage Response to LPS/ATP — Unveiling the Pyroptosis, Apoptosis, and Necroptosis Spectrum06:12

Author Spotlight: THP-1 Macrophage Response to LPS/ATP — Unveiling the Pyroptosis, Apoptosis, and Necroptosis Spectrum

Published on: May 3, 2024

2.2K
Cytotoxic Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy in Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro08:04

Cytotoxic Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy in Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro

Published on: March 18, 2014

12.9K

Related Concept Videos

Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the...
7.5K
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
5.9K
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:17

The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

The extrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated when extracellular death-inducing signals, such as specific cytokines, activate the death receptors expressed on the cell surface. The immune cells involved in this pathway are natural killer cells (NK cells) and cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. NK cells are critical in innate immune response, while cytotoxic T-lymphocytes are associated with adaptive immune response. These cells recognize specific receptors expressed on the altered cells and activate...
6.5K
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
616
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.8K
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
6.7K