Targeting ferroptosis: a promising avenue for ovarian cancer treatment

Ovarian cancer(OC) is the second most common gynecological malignancy worldwide. While traditional treatments such as cytoreductive surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted drugs have made progress, patients with advanced disease still face high recurrence rates and resistance to treatment. As a result,...

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Main Authors: Xiaolan Wu, Qizhi Liu, Zhili Jiang, Guiyun Wang, Lingyu Liao, Xiaojuan Ye, Min Xing, Han Sun, Qiying Liu, Huiping Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1578723/full
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author Xiaolan Wu
Xiaolan Wu
Xiaolan Wu
Xiaolan Wu
Qizhi Liu
Zhili Jiang
Guiyun Wang
Guiyun Wang
Guiyun Wang
Guiyun Wang
Lingyu Liao
Lingyu Liao
Lingyu Liao
Xiaojuan Ye
Xiaojuan Ye
Xiaojuan Ye
Min Xing
Min Xing
Min Xing
Han Sun
Qiying Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
author_facet Xiaolan Wu
Xiaolan Wu
Xiaolan Wu
Xiaolan Wu
Qizhi Liu
Zhili Jiang
Guiyun Wang
Guiyun Wang
Guiyun Wang
Guiyun Wang
Lingyu Liao
Lingyu Liao
Lingyu Liao
Xiaojuan Ye
Xiaojuan Ye
Xiaojuan Ye
Min Xing
Min Xing
Min Xing
Han Sun
Qiying Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
author_sort Xiaolan Wu
collection DOAJ
description Ovarian cancer(OC) is the second most common gynecological malignancy worldwide. While traditional treatments such as cytoreductive surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted drugs have made progress, patients with advanced disease still face high recurrence rates and resistance to treatment. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies. Ferroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has recently gained attention for its potential in cancer therapy. Studies indicate that OC cells are highly sensitive to ferroptosis, and targeting this pathway can effectively overcome chemotherapy resistance and improve treatment outcomes. This review systematically examines the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and its role in OC, with a focus on its involvement in tumor initiation, progression, TME and resistance. Furthermore, we highlight the research advancements on various ferroptosis inducers, including natural products, small molecule compounds, and nanotechnology, and explore their potential in overcoming resistance and enhancing patient prognosis. We also discuss the challenges facing ferroptosis-based treatments for OC, such as species differences, drug resistance, personalized treatment needs, and clinical translation issues. Ultimately, targeted modulation of ferroptosis offers new hope for OC therapy. Future research should focus on further elucidating its molecular mechanisms and exploring effective inducers and combination therapies to enhance its clinical applicability in precision and personalized medicine.
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spelling doaj-art-e2f1cc03d1e74282a71f5305fb2f1e392025-08-20T02:32:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-06-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15787231578723Targeting ferroptosis: a promising avenue for ovarian cancer treatmentXiaolan Wu0Xiaolan Wu1Xiaolan Wu2Xiaolan Wu3Qizhi Liu4Zhili Jiang5Guiyun Wang6Guiyun Wang7Guiyun Wang8Guiyun Wang9Lingyu Liao10Lingyu Liao11Lingyu Liao12Xiaojuan Ye13Xiaojuan Ye14Xiaojuan Ye15Min Xing16Min Xing17Min Xing18Han Sun19Qiying Liu20Huiping Liu21Huiping Liu22Huiping Liu23Huiping Liu24Huiping Liu25School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription and Syndrome Differentiation Translational Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oncology of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Gynaecology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaMedical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription and Syndrome Differentiation Translational Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oncology of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Gynaecology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription and Syndrome Differentiation Translational Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oncology of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription and Syndrome Differentiation Translational Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oncology of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription and Syndrome Differentiation Translational Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oncology of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha Hospital for Maternal and Child Health Care, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaSchool of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription and Syndrome Differentiation Translational Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaHunan University of Chinese Medicine, Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Oncology of Hunan Province, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaDepartment of Gynaecology, The First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaMedical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, ChinaOvarian cancer(OC) is the second most common gynecological malignancy worldwide. While traditional treatments such as cytoreductive surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted drugs have made progress, patients with advanced disease still face high recurrence rates and resistance to treatment. As a result, there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies. Ferroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has recently gained attention for its potential in cancer therapy. Studies indicate that OC cells are highly sensitive to ferroptosis, and targeting this pathway can effectively overcome chemotherapy resistance and improve treatment outcomes. This review systematically examines the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and its role in OC, with a focus on its involvement in tumor initiation, progression, TME and resistance. Furthermore, we highlight the research advancements on various ferroptosis inducers, including natural products, small molecule compounds, and nanotechnology, and explore their potential in overcoming resistance and enhancing patient prognosis. We also discuss the challenges facing ferroptosis-based treatments for OC, such as species differences, drug resistance, personalized treatment needs, and clinical translation issues. Ultimately, targeted modulation of ferroptosis offers new hope for OC therapy. Future research should focus on further elucidating its molecular mechanisms and exploring effective inducers and combination therapies to enhance its clinical applicability in precision and personalized medicine.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1578723/fullOCferroptosislipid peroxidationdrug resistancetargeted therapy
spellingShingle Xiaolan Wu
Xiaolan Wu
Xiaolan Wu
Xiaolan Wu
Qizhi Liu
Zhili Jiang
Guiyun Wang
Guiyun Wang
Guiyun Wang
Guiyun Wang
Lingyu Liao
Lingyu Liao
Lingyu Liao
Xiaojuan Ye
Xiaojuan Ye
Xiaojuan Ye
Min Xing
Min Xing
Min Xing
Han Sun
Qiying Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
Huiping Liu
Targeting ferroptosis: a promising avenue for ovarian cancer treatment
Frontiers in Immunology
OC
ferroptosis
lipid peroxidation
drug resistance
targeted therapy
title Targeting ferroptosis: a promising avenue for ovarian cancer treatment
title_full Targeting ferroptosis: a promising avenue for ovarian cancer treatment
title_fullStr Targeting ferroptosis: a promising avenue for ovarian cancer treatment
title_full_unstemmed Targeting ferroptosis: a promising avenue for ovarian cancer treatment
title_short Targeting ferroptosis: a promising avenue for ovarian cancer treatment
title_sort targeting ferroptosis a promising avenue for ovarian cancer treatment
topic OC
ferroptosis
lipid peroxidation
drug resistance
targeted therapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1578723/full
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