Role of ferroptosis on immunotherapy in breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally, and its rising incidence and mortality rates underscore the urgent need for new treatment strategies. Current treatment methods including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy have limited efficacy. In recent years, immunotherapy has attracted considerable attention as an innovative cancer treatment method due to its ability to activate the immune system against tumor cells, particularly in breast cancer. Ferroptosis, a newly identified form of programmed cell death, has been demonstrated to be closely associated with the initiation and progression of various tumors including breast cancer. Research indicates that enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy can be achieved by modulating the mechanisms of ferroptosis. This review integrates mechanistic evidence linking the pathogenesis of breast cancer to ferroptosis, immunotherapy, and associated signaling pathways. Although direct causal evidence remains limited, findings from preclinical and translational research suggest that the interaction network between the ferroptosis pathway and immunotherapy targets constitutes an interconnected system. This system may hold potential clinical translational value in the treatment of breast cancer. Our discussion demonstrates these mechanisms within a unified framework, proposing that their combined effects may provide clearer insights into breast cancer therapy. We propose that exploring these molecular pathways could pave the way for novel approaches in immunotherapy and ferroptosis-based strategies in breast cancer treatment.