Pyroptosis and inflammasomes in cancer and inflammation

Abstract

Nonprogrammed cell death (NPCD) and programmed cell death (PCD) are two types of cell death. Cell death is significantly linked to tumor development, medication resistance, cancer recurrence, and metastatic dissemination. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of cell death is essential for the treatment of cancer. Pyroptosis is a kind of PCD distinct from autophagy and apoptosis in terms of the structure and function of cells. The defining features of pyroptosis include the release of an inflammatory cascade reaction and the expulsion of lysosomes, inflammatory mediators, and other cellular substances from within the cell. Additionally, it displays variations in osmotic pressure both within and outside the cell. Pyroptosis, as evidenced by a growing body of research, is critical for controlling the development of inflammatory diseases and cancer. In this paper, we reviewed the current level of knowledge on the mechanism of pyroptosis and inflammasomes and their connection to cancer and inflammatory diseases. This article presents a theoretical framework for investigating the potential of therapeutic targets in cancer and inflammatory diseases, overcoming medication resistance, establishing nanomedicines associated with pyroptosis, and developing risk prediction models in refractory cancer. Given the link between pyroptosis and the emergence of cancer and inflammatory diseases, pyroptosis‐targeted treatments may be a cutting‐edge treatment strategy.

Mitochondria-Derived Vesicles, Sterile Inflammation, and Pyroptosis in Liver Cancer: Partners in Crime or Innocent Bystanders?

“…Although several studies indicate that pyroptosis plays a crucial role in the development of systemic inflammatory syndromes, its contribution has also been recognized in the development and eventual treatment of tumors [39][40][41][42]. Pyroptosis programmed cell death, other than being pivotal in embryonic development, is involved in the onset and progression of several disease conditions, especially cancer.…”

“…Pyroptosis programmed cell death, other than being pivotal in embryonic development, is involved in the onset and progression of several disease conditions, especially cancer. Escaping from cell death is, indeed, a feature of cancer cells [41,42]. Normal cells, when hyperstimulated by inflammatory mediators released by the activation of pyroptosis, may acquire malignant phenotypes [43].…”

Harnessing Pyroptosis for Cancer Immunotherapy

“…However, because pyroptosis is an inflammatory type of cell death whereby intracellular contents are released into the extracellular milieu to induce a potent inflammatory microenvironment, there has been intense interest in harnessing this cell death modality for cancer immunotherapy applications. Mounting evidence, which has been extensively reviewed [11][12][13][14][15][16][17], suggests that combining pyroptosis with current immunotherapy agents leads to robust antitumor responses. Here, we discuss the latest innovative efforts to develop pyroptosis-based therapeutics as new or complementary anticancer treatments.…”