Artesunate induces ferroptosis in gastric cancer by targeting the TFRC-HSPA9 axis for iron homeostasis regulation.

ABSTRACT: Ferroptosis, a recently characterized form of regulated cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment due to its potential for selectively targeting cancer cells. Exploiting FDA-approved drugs to induce ferroptosis offers a novel approach that exploits cancer cells' vulnerabilities in iron metabolism and oxidative stress. Here, we identify artesunate, an antimalarial drug, as a potent inducer of ferroptosis in gastric cancer cells and reveal the transferrin receptor (TFRC) as a key mediator in this process. Notably, our study is the first to demonstrate an interaction between artesunate and TFRC through molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments, highlighting a novel mechanism by which art

SUBMITTER: Liu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12628023 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature