RNF216 inhibits ferroptosis in lung adenocarcinoma by promoting p53 ubiquitination

PurposeLung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent subtype of non-small cell lung cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. This study investigates the role of Ring Finger Protein 216 (RNF216) in LUAD progression.MethodsRNF216 expression was evaluated in LUAD tissues and cells. Functional assays evaluated cell viability, migration, invasion, and ferroptosis in vitro. Mechanistic investigations defined RNF216's role in regulating p53 ubiquitination and stability. In vivo, xenograft models evaluated tumor growth and ferroptosis.ResultsRNF216 was markedly overexpressed in LUAD tissues and cell lines. Functional studies demonstrated that silencing RNF216 suppressed LUAD cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while inducing ferroptosis, characterized by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and intracellular Fe²⁺ accumulation. Mechanistically, RNF216 knockdown stabilized p53 by reducing its ubiquitination, thereby promoting ferroptosis. These findings were corroborated in vivo, where RNF216 silencing significantly inhibited tumor growth and enhanced ferroptosis in xenograft models.ConclusionsOur results establish RNF216 as a pivotal oncogenic driver that accelerates LUAD progression by suppressing ferroptosis through p53 ubiquitination. Targeting RNF216 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy to induce ferroptosis and combat LUAD.