Targeting Ferroptosis: New Hope for As-Yet-Incurable Diseases

Trends Mol Med. 2021 Feb;27(2):113-122. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.08.010. Epub 2020 Sep 18.

Abstract

Attaining control over life and death decisions facilitates the identification of new therapeutic strategies for diseases affected by early cell loss or resistance to cell death. In this context, ferroptosis, a prevailing form of non-apoptotic cell death marked by the iron-dependent oxidative destruction of lipid bilayers and metabolic aberrations, has attracted overwhelming interest among basic researchers and clinicians due to its relevance for a number of degenerative diseases, such as neurodegeneration, ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), and organ failure, as well as therapy-resistant tumors. As the ferroptotic death pathway offers various druggable nodes, it is anticipated that the preclinical and clinical development of ferroptosis modulators will unleash unprecedented opportunities for the treatment of as-yet-incurable diseases.

Keywords: cancer; ischemia/reperfusion injury; lipid peroxidation; necroinflammation; neurodegeneration; regulated necrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Clinical Studies as Topic
  • Drug Development
  • Drug Discovery* / methods
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Ferroptosis / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Iron / metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Iron