Disulfidptosis in tumor progression

Senlin Wan1,2, Changming Liang1,2, Chengwei Wu1,2

  • 1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui, China.

Cell Death Discovery
|April 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Disulfidptosis, a cell death pathway driven by SLC7A11, involves actin collapse during glucose starvation. This process is key to tumor metabolic reprogramming and offers new therapeutic targets in oncology.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Death Research
  • Metabolic Reprogramming

Background:

  • Disulfidptosis is a regulated cell death modality triggered by cystine transporter SLC7A11, characterized by actin cytoskeleton collapse under glucose deprivation.
  • It plays a critical role in tumor metabolic reprogramming, distinct from other cell death pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the molecular mechanisms of disulfidptosis.
  • To explore its role in tumor metabolic reprogramming and immune microenvironment.
  • To discuss therapeutic strategies targeting disulfidptosis.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of literature on disulfidptosis.
  • Integration of multiomics and single-cell transcriptomics data.
  • Analysis of coexpression networks of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) and long noncoding RNAs (DRLs).

Main Results:

  • Disulfidptosis mechanisms involve SLC7A11-mediated cystine overload and NRF2/c-Myc-regulated pentose phosphate pathway activation.
  • Heterogeneous expression patterns of DRGs and their interplay with the tumor immune microenvironment were deciphered.
  • Coexpression networks of DRGs and DRLs provide insights into tumor diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Disulfidptosis is a crucial mechanism in tumor metabolic reprogramming with significant diagnostic and prognostic implications.
  • Targeted therapies, including SLC7A11 inhibitors and glucose transporter inhibitors, show promise.
  • Synergistic strategies involving natural compounds and immunotherapy offer potential for overcoming immunosuppression and advancing precision oncology.