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Curcumin suppresses head and neck squamous cell carcinoma progression via NCOA4-FTH1-mediated ferroptosis

Yao Liu1,2,3, Junli Ning2, Zegang Li4

  • 1Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.

Acta Biochimica Et Biophysica Sinica
|June 10, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Curcumin induces ferroptosis, a cell death process, in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This occurs through ferritinophagy, involving the NCOA4-FTH1 axis, offering a new therapeutic strategy for HNSCC.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Death Research

Background:

  • Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) presents limited treatment options.
  • Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death, is a promising cancer therapy approach.
  • Curcumin (Cur) shows anti-tumor effects, but its role in HNSCC cell death is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate Curcumin's mechanism of cell death induction in HNSCC.
  • To explore Curcumin's role as a ferroptosis inducer in HNSCC.
  • To elucidate the molecular pathways involved in Curcumin-induced cell death.

Main Methods:

  • Transcriptomic sequencing analysis to identify ferroptosis markers.
  • Assessment of ferroptosis hallmarks: iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, ROS generation, mitochondrial damage.
  • Investigation of ferritinophagy via ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) and nuclear receptor coactivator 4 (NCOA4) interaction.
  • Ferrostatin-1 treatment to confirm ferroptosis.
  • NCOA4 knockdown to validate its role.

Main Results:

  • Curcumin effectively induces ferroptosis in HNSCC cells.
  • Curcumin treatment leads to iron accumulation, lipid peroxidation, ROS generation, and mitochondrial damage.
  • Curcumin promotes ferritinophagy by enhancing the NCOA4-FTH1 interaction, leading to FTH1 lysosomal degradation.
  • NCOA4 knockdown inhibits FTH1 degradation and protects HNSCC cells from Curcumin-induced ferroptosis.

Conclusions:

  • Curcumin triggers ferroptosis in HNSCC via NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy.
  • The NCOA4-FTH1 axis is a potential therapeutic target for HNSCC.
  • Curcumin demonstrates potential as a treatment for HNSCC.
Keywords:
FTH1NCOA4curcuminferroptosishead and neck squamous cell carcinoma

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