Exploiting metabolic cell death for cancer therapy.

Abstract

Resistance to cell death is a hallmark of cancer, driving tumour progression and limiting therapeutic efficacy. Metabolic cell death pathways have been identified as unique vulnerabilities in cancer, with ferroptosis being the most extensively studied, alongside the more recently discovered pathways of cuproptosis and disulfidptosis - each triggered by distinct metabolic perturbations. In this Review, we examine the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks that govern these forms of metabolic cell death in cancer cells. We further examine the potential crosstalk between these pathways and discuss how insights gained and challenges encountered from extensive studies on ferroptosis can guide future research and therapeutic strategies targeting cuproptosis and disulfidptosis in cancer treatment. We highlight the complexity and dual roles of metabolic cell death in cancer and offer our perspective on how to leverage these cell death processes to develop innovative, targeted cancer therapies.