Cancer Advisor

What Is Ferroptosis? Ferroptosis is a unique form of regulated cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation — toxic oxidative damage to fats within cell membranes. Unlike apoptosis (“cell suicide”), ferroptosis causes cells to die through catastrophic oxidative membrane injury. Cancer researchers are increasingly interested in ferroptosis because many aggressive tumors appear vulnerable to it. The term “ferroptosis” was first introduced in 2012 by researchers at Columbia University. Why Ferroptosis Matters in Cancer Cancer cells often display biological features that make them susceptible to ferroptosis: Increased iron demand Elevated oxidative stress Altered metabolism Rapid membrane synthesis Dependence on antioxidant defenses These characteristics may create an “Achilles heel” that therapies can exploit. Tumor types believed to be especially ferroptosis-sensitive include: Pancreatic cancer Triple-negative breast cancer Glioblastoma Liver cancer Lung cancer Therapy-resista...