Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 3 complete abstracts (685 words), 9 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
A form of regulated cell death initiated by oxidative perturbations of the intracellular microenvironment that is under constitutive control by glutathione peroxidase 4 and can be inhibited by iron chelators and lipophilic antioxidants.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Oxytosis.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Regulated Cell Death
Related concepts
- Regulated Cell Death
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 17,241 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Ferroptosis” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 17,063 of them (99.0%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2020 onward with 17,063 records.
Reviews account for 2,585 records (15.0%) and meta-analyses for 14. Randomized controlled trials number 10 (0.1%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 0 |
| 2000-2009 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 220 |
| 2020 onward | 17,063 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 2,585 | 15.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 14 | 0.1% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 10 | 0.1% |
Method: PubMed query "Ferroptosis"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in molecular biology
Molecular biology establishes mechanisms through controlled experiments, often in simplified systems such as purified proteins, cultured cells or model organisms. Such work can show what is possible in a defined system, but whether a pathway matters in a whole organism or in human disease needs further evidence. Check the experimental system, whether findings were reproduced by independent groups, and whether the authors tested the mechanism directly or inferred it from correlation.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super-enhancer-driven KIAA1522 upregulation suppresses ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42281194 · DOI · PMC13260693 |
| Ferroptosis Inducers Combined with Copper Ionophores Aggravate Lung Cancer-Related Fatigue via GSH Depletion and FKBP5-Associated Impairment of Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42587802 · DOI · PMC13465117 |
| SIRT7-mediated ACSL3 delactylation suppresses colorectal cancer progression by orchestrating tumor-associated macrophage ferroptosis and polarization | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 2 | cc by PMID 42380090 · DOI · PMC13582799 |
Super-enhancer-driven KIAA1522 upregulation suppresses ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundAberrantly activated super-enhancers (SEs) drive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) malignancy.
- Closing excerpt
- As a key downstream effector of KIAA1522, ATF4 plays an essential regulatory role in ferroptosis mediated by the oncoprotein.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (284 words)
BackgroundAberrantly activated super-enhancers (SEs) drive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) malignancy. However, the sustained oncogenic mechanisms mediated by SE-driven genes remain elusive.MethodsHCC-specific SE genes were identified by cross-analysing H3K27ac ChIP-seq and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Analyses of HCC databases using Cox proportional hazards regression were performed to identify core SE-activated genes. The SE-mediated transcriptional activation of an identified gene (i.e., KIAA1522) was validated through SE landscapes, ChIP‑qPCR, CRISPR interference and dual‑luciferase reporter assays. HCC cells with knockdown or overexpression of KIAA1522 were constructed to evaluate its functional impact, and RNA-seq was performed to identify downstream pathways. Ferroptosis was evaluated by measuring the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ferrous ions.ResultsSE inhibitors suppressed HCC cell proliferation. KIAA1522 was identified as an HCC-specific SE gene, exhibiting elevated expression in HCC tissues and an association with unfavourable outcomes. Targeting SEs reduced KIAA1522 expression, and the SE region at chr1: 32753965‒32762956 transcriptionally activated KIAA1522. Functionally, KIAA1522 knockdown exerted anti-proliferative effects in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, its knockdown triggered ferroptosis, elevated the levels of MDA, ROS and ferrous ions, and downregulated the expression of hallmark proteins. Conversely, KIAA1522 overexpression reversed these effects. Notably, targeting the SEs recapitulated the phenotypic consequences of KIAA1522 knockdown. Mechanistically, activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) serves as a key downstream effector of KIAA1522, playing an essential role in ferroptosis triggered by KIAA1522 knockdown.ConclusionAs a SE-driven oncogene, KIAA1522 facilitates HCC progression via evasion of ferroptosis, representing an actionable target with potential for clinical translation.Key pointsAberrantly activated SEs drive the overexpression of the oncogene KIAA1522 in HCC. Targeting SEs and knocking down KIAA1522 facilitate ferroptosis in HCC. As a key downstream effector of KIAA1522, ATF4 plays an essential regulatory role in ferroptosis mediated by the oncoprotein.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42281194 · DOI · PMC13260693
Ferroptosis Inducers Combined with Copper Ionophores Aggravate Lung Cancer-Related Fatigue via GSH Depletion and FKBP5-Associated Impairment of Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) remains difficult to manage, and the impact of metal ion-regulated cell death on peripheral fatigue during anticancer therapy is unclear.
- Closing excerpt
- FIN-CIN combinations may aggravate skeletal muscle injury and fatigue-like phenotypes in LCaRF models by promoting cuproptosis via GSH depletion and FKBP5/Nrf2-HO-1 dysregulation.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (203 words)
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) remains difficult to manage, and the impact of metal ion-regulated cell death on peripheral fatigue during anticancer therapy is unclear. Here, we investigated whether ferroptosis inducers (FINs) potentiate copper ionophore (CIN)-triggered cuproptosis in skeletal muscle and aggravate lung cancer-related fatigue (LCaRF), and evaluated redox-based interventions. LCaRF cellular models were established using C2C12 exposed to LLC/M109 tumor-conditioned supernatants and treated with FINs (sorafenib/erastin) plus CIN + CuCl2 (CIN-Cu + FINs). Cell viability, lipid peroxidation, DLAT aggregation (cuproptosis hallmark), copper/glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial function, and FKBP5/Nrf2-HO-1 signaling were assessed with pharmacologic and genetic modulation. An orthotopic lung cancer mouse model underwent wheel-running, tail suspension, and open-field testing with tetrathiomolybdate (TTM) or hydrogen as interventions. FINs sensitized C2C12 cells to CIN-Cu cytotoxicity and increased DLAT aggregation; copper chelation with TTM attenuated these effects. FINs depleted GSH and amplified mitochondrial dysfunction/ROS; exogenous GSH or hydrogen reduced DLAT aggregation and restored mitochondrial indices. FKBP5 was markedly upregulated by CIN-Cu + FINs and linked to suppressed antioxidant defense (Nrf2/HO-1). In vivo, CIN-Cu + FIN treatment exacerbated fatigue-like behaviors, while TTM or hydrogen partially improved performance. FIN-CIN combinations may aggravate skeletal muscle injury and fatigue-like phenotypes in LCaRF models by promoting cuproptosis via GSH depletion and FKBP5/Nrf2-HO-1 dysregulation.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42587802 · DOI · PMC13465117
SIRT7-mediated ACSL3 delactylation suppresses colorectal cancer progression by orchestrating tumor-associated macrophage ferroptosis and polarization [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Dysregulated metabolism and functions of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are key factors contributing to cancer progression.
- Closing excerpt
- This study provides the therapeutic potential of targeting SIRT7-mediated delactylation of ACSL3 in TAMs, offering a promising strategy for CRC therapy.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (198 words)
Dysregulated metabolism and functions of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are key factors contributing to cancer progression. As the core immune cells in TME, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have become a central focus in metabolic research of TME, though underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Here, we found that long-chain acyl-coenzyme A synthetase-3 (ACSL3) is highly expressed in TAMs and correlates with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). ACSL3 depletion induces TAM ferroptosis and reprograms them toward an M1-like phenotype. We further revealed that ACSL3 undergoes lactylation in TAMs, and identified Sirtuin 7 (SIRT7) as its delactylase. Mechanistically, SIRT7 delactylates ACSL3 at lysine 679, restores its enzymatic function and reprograms lipid metabolism in TAMs. Importantly, lactylated and activated ACSL3 significantly protects TAMs from ferroptotic stress and sustains their immunosuppressive phenotype. On the contrary, inhibiting ACSL3 lactylation reprograms TAMs toward an M1-like phenotype, further restores T cell cytotoxicity and suppresses CRC progression. Collectively, these findings establish ACSL3 lactylation in TAMs as a crucial signaling event that enables ferroptosis resistance and maintains M2 polarization, thereby promoting CRC progression. This study provides the therapeutic potential of targeting SIRT7-mediated delactylation of ACSL3 in TAMs, offering a promising strategy for CRC therapy.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 42380090 · DOI · PMC13582799
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Androgen Receptor Variants Confer Castration Resistance in Prostate Cancer by Counteracting Antiandrogen-Induced Ferroptosis [4]
- Research article Ferroptosis resistance mechanisms in endometriosis for diagnostic model establishment [5]
- Research article Translating ferroptosis into oncology: challenges, opportunities and future directions [6]
- Research article Ferroptosis-immune-metabolic axis in asthma: mechanistic crosstalk, endotype-specific regulation, and translational targeting [7]
- Research article Haem Oxygenase-1, Ferroptosis and Disorders-A Narrative Review [8]
- Research article Decoding GPX4 regulation in ferroptosis: mechanisms and therapeutic implications [9]
References
- Li X, Hu S, Shi H, Bian P, Wang Z, Sun J. Super-enhancer-driven KIAA1522 upregulation suppresses ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. . 2026. PMID 42281194 · DOI · PMC13260693
- Chen M, Pang Y, He Y, Ma Y, Tang L. Ferroptosis Inducers Combined with Copper Ionophores Aggravate Lung Cancer-Related Fatigue via GSH Depletion and FKBP5-Associated Impairment of Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling. . 2026. PMID 42587802 · DOI · PMC13465117
- Jiang L, Li C, Teng P, Qin Y, Tang J, Hu X, et al.. SIRT7-mediated ACSL3 delactylation suppresses colorectal cancer progression by orchestrating tumor-associated macrophage ferroptosis and polarization. . 2026. PMID 42380090 · DOI · PMC13582799
- Sun R, Yan B, Li H, Ding D, Wang L, Pang J, et al.. Androgen Receptor Variants Confer Castration Resistance in Prostate Cancer by Counteracting Antiandrogen-Induced Ferroptosis. Cancer Res. 2023. PMID 37527336 · DOI · PMC10543964
- Li B, Duan H, Wang S, Li Y. Ferroptosis resistance mechanisms in endometriosis for diagnostic model establishment. Reprod Biomed Online. 2021. PMID 33992553 · DOI
- Kang R, Liu J, Wang J, Kroemer G, Tang D. Translating ferroptosis into oncology: challenges, opportunities and future directions. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2026. PMID 41735603 · DOI
- Ni FX, Hu J, Chen PS, Chen HH, Huang DH, Jiang ZB. Ferroptosis-immune-metabolic axis in asthma: mechanistic crosstalk, endotype-specific regulation, and translational targeting. Front Immunol. 2025. PMID 41573584 · DOI · PMC12819738
- Pham J, Refesse M, Saeed A, Latunde-Dada GO. Haem Oxygenase-1, Ferroptosis and Disorders-A Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2025. PMID 41470866 · DOI · PMC12735572
- Chen X. Decoding GPX4 regulation in ferroptosis: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Trends Mol Med. 2026. PMID 41826143 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.