Ferroptosis in pancreatic diseases: potential opportunities and challenges that require attention

The pancreas is an abdominal organ with both endocrine and exocrine functions, and patients with pancreatic diseases suffer tremendously. The regulated cell death of various cells in the pancreas is thought to play a key role in disease development. As one of the newly discovered regulated cell death modalities, ferroptosis has the potential for therapeutic applications in the study of multiple diseases. Ferroptosis has been observed in several pancreatic diseases, but its role in pancreatic diseases has not been systematically elucidated or reviewed. Understanding the occurrence of ferroptosis in various pancreatic diseases after damage to the different cell types is crucial in determining disease progression, evaluating targeted therapies, and predicting disease prognosis. Herein, we summarize the research progress associated with ferroptosis in four common pancreatic diseases, namely acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, the elucidation of ferroptosis in rare pancreatic diseases may provide sociological benefits in the future.