Melanoma cells use apolipoprotein E to evade ferroptosis, study finds
Source: Medical Xpress, October 2024
A research team led by Prof. Patrizia Agostinis (VIB-KU Leuven) has found that melanoma cell populations protect themselves from a form of cell death called ferroptosis by secreting the lipoprotein apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Their work appears in Science Advances.
Ferroptosis is a recently discovered form of cell death. As the name implies, it is driven by iron-dependent oxidation of specific polyunsaturated lipids (PUFAs). Interestingly, drug-tolerant and metastasis-initiating cancer cells are particularly sensitive to ferroptosis.
Understanding the mechanisms that can make cancer cells resistant to ferroptosis is critical to leverage its potential in cancer treatment. Sanket More from the team of Prof. Agostinis (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology) found that the more ApoE melanoma cells secrete, the less the population of metastasis-initiating melanoma cells are susceptible to treatments that induce iron-dependent cell death.