Understanding variability in cell death modes and sensitivity: Potential implications for targeted cancer therapies

Cell death is an inseparable mechanism accompanying the individual development of multicellular organisms. In every organism, there must be a constant exchange and regulation of the number of cells in tissues, consisting of the control of their proliferation, inhibition of the cell cycle, or induction of cell death pathways. The proper functioning of the physiological mechanisms of cell death (e.g., apoptotic) determines the maintenance of homeostasis, understood as the internal balance of the body, which directly depends on the appropriate pH levels, osmotic pressure, or concentration of individual chemical compounds. Regulated cell death (RCD) plays an important role in the body's homeostasis, but in case of its disruption, and without control over the regulation of one or more types of cell death, it can cause diseases such as cancer, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune diseases. RCD can take many forms, including apoptosis, necroptosis, or ferroptosis. This review focuses the variability in dominant modes of cell death, sensitivity, and response pathways across different tumor cell lines. Understanding these dynamics is essential for optimizing novel treatment modalities and improving cancer's patient prognosis.