Tumor suppressor protein Par-4 found to trigger unique cell death pathway in cancer cells

Identification of PAWR/Par-4 as a critical contributor of ferroptosis. Credit: Communications Biology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06430-z A team of researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi, led by Professor Sehamuddin Galadari, has discovered that the tumor suppressor protein Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) can cause a unique type of cell death called ferroptosis in human glioblastoma—the most common and aggressive type of brain tumor—while sparing healthy cells. This new understanding has the potential to inform the development of novel treatments for various hard-to-treat cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. Ferroptosis is triggered by the iron-mediated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent lipid peroxidation, which Read More