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Review
. 2022 May 7;11(5):921.
doi: 10.3390/antiox11050921.

Prospective Application of Ferroptosis in Hypoxic Cells for Tumor Radiotherapy

Jing Su  1   2   3 , Qin Zhao  1   2   3 , Zhuangzhuang Zheng  1   2   3 , Huanhuan Wang  1   2   3 , Chenbin Bian  1   2   3 , Lingbin Meng  4 , Ying Xin  5 , Xin Jiang  1   2   3
Affiliations
Free PMC article
Review

Prospective Application of Ferroptosis in Hypoxic Cells for Tumor Radiotherapy

Jing Su et al. Antioxidants (Basel). .
Free PMC article

Abstract

Radiation therapy plays an increasingly important role in cancer treatment. It can inhibit the progression of various cancers through radiation-induced DNA breakage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) overload. Unfortunately, solid tumors, such as breast and lung cancer, often develop a hypoxic microenvironment due to insufficient blood supply and rapid tumor proliferation, thereby affecting the effectiveness of radiation therapy. Restraining hypoxia and improving the curative effect of radiotherapy have become difficult problems. Ferroptosis is a new type of cell death caused by lipid peroxidation due to iron metabolism disorders and ROS accumulation. It plays an important role in both hypoxia and radiotherapy and can enhance the radiosensitivity of hypoxic tumor cells by amplifying oxidative stress or inhibiting antioxidant regulation. In this review, we summarize the internal relationship and related mechanisms between ferroptosis and hypoxia, thus exploring the possibility of inducing ferroptosis to improve the prognosis of hypoxic tumors.

Keywords: AMPK; Nrf-2; ferroptosis; hypoxia; lipid peroxidation; radiotherapy; reactive oxygen species (ROS).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mechanism of NCOA4 regulation under hypoxia.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The regulatory pathways of ferroptosis and the role of HIF.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Regulation of ferroptosis by Nrf-2.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Regulatory effect of AMPK on ferroptosis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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