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Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Author Spotlight: Tracing the Ferroptotic Signatures and Cell Death Dynamics in Medulloblastoma for Advanced Therapeutics
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Author Spotlight: Tracing the Ferroptotic Signatures and Cell Death Dynamics in Medulloblastoma for Advanced Therapeutics

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Nrf2 targeting in overcoming ferroptosis evasion in head and neck cancer

Jong-Lyel Roh1

  • 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|June 12, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Targeting the Nrf2 pathway can overcome ferroptosis resistance in head and neck cancer. Inhibiting Nrf2 sensitizes cancer cells to ferroptosis, offering a new therapeutic strategy for resistant cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Ferroptosis is regulated cell death marked by lipid peroxidation and iron accumulation.
  • Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) regulates genes that help cells evade ferroptosis.
  • Nrf2 pathway activation confers resistance to ferroptosis in cancer cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the Nrf2 pathway in ferroptosis evasion in head and neck cancer.
  • To determine if inhibiting the Nrf2 pathway can sensitize head and neck cancer cells to ferroptosis.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the Nrf2-antioxidant responsive element (ARE) pathway in head and neck cancer cells.
  • Experimental manipulation of Nrf2 pathway activity.

Main Results:

  • Nrf2-ARE pathway activation promotes resistance to ferroptosis in head and neck cancer.
  • Inhibition of the Nrf2 pathway reverses ferroptosis evasion, sensitizing cells to ferroptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Modulating the Nrf2 pathway is a potential strategy to overcome ferroptosis resistance in head and neck cancer therapy.
  • Targeting Nrf2 via ferroptosis induction may offer a novel approach for therapy-resistant head and neck cancers.
Keywords:
FerroptosisHead and neck cancerNuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2ResistanceTherapy

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