Ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death distinct from apoptosis and necrosis, characterized primarily by the iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxides to lethal levels. Unlike other forms of cell death, ferroptosis is driven by oxidative stress and the failure of cellular mechanisms that repair or remove damaged lipids. It plays a crucial role in various physiological processes and diseases, particularly in conditions like cancer, neurodegeneration, and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Understanding and manipulating ferroptosis can offer new therapeutic avenues, especially in drug-resistant cancers, by inducing death in otherwise resilient cells. Research in this area is burgeoning, with the potential for developing novel treatments that specifically trigger or inhibit this pathway.