Ferroptosis, Necroptosis, and Pyroptosis in Gastrointestinal Cancers: The Chief Culprits of Tumor Progression and Drug Resistance

In recent years, the incidence of gastrointestinal cancers is increasing, particularly in the younger population. Effective treatment is crucial for improving patients' survival outcomes. Programmed cell death, regulated by various genes, plays a fundamental role in the growth and development of organisms. It is also critical for maintaining tissue and organ homeostasis and takes part in multiple pathological processes. In addition to apoptosis, there are other types of programmed cell death, such as ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, which can induce severe inflammatory responses. Notably, besides apoptosis, ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis also contribute to the occurrence and development of gastrointestinal cancers. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary on the biological roles and molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, as well as their regulators in gastrointestinal cancers and hope to open up new paths for tumor targeted therapy in the near future.

Automated summary

In recent years, there has been an increase in the occurrence of gastrointestinal cancers, especially among young people. Effective treatment is crucial for improving patients' chances of survival. Programmed cell death, regulated by various genes, plays a vital role in the growth and development of organisms and is involved in maintaining tissue and organ homeostasis and various pathological processes. Aside from apoptosis, other forms of programmed cell death such as ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis can cause severe inflammatory responses and contribute to the development of gastrointestinal cancers. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the biological roles and molecular mechanisms of these cell death processes, as well as their regulators, in gastrointestinal cancers, aiming to explore new avenues for targeted therapy in the future.