Therapeutic connections between pyroptosis and paclitaxel in anti-tumor effects: an updated review

As a form of inflammation-associated cell death, pyroptosis has gained widespread attention in recent years. Accumulating evidence indicates that pyroptosis regulates tumor growth and is associated with autoimmune disorders and inflammatory response. Paclitaxel, a traditional Chinese medicine, usually induces death of cancer cells as a chemotherapeutic agent. Previous studies have revealed that paclitaxel can exert an anti-tumor effect through a variety of cell death mechanisms, of which pyroptosis plays a pivotal role in inhibiting tumor growth and enhancing anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we summarize the current advances in therapeutic connections between pyroptosis and paclitaxel in anti-tumor effects.