Iron metabolism, ferroptosis, and lncRNA in cancer: knowns and unknowns

Abstract

Cancer cells undergo substantial metabolic alterations to sustain increased energy supply and uncontrolled proliferation. As an essential trace element, iron is vital for many biological processes. Evidence has revealed that cancer cells deploy various mechanisms to elevate the cellular iron concentration to accelerate proliferation. Ferroptosis, a form of cell death caused by iron-catalyzed excessive peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), is a promising therapeutic target for therapy-resistant cancers. Previous studies have reported that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a group of critical regulators involved in modulating cell metabolism, proliferation, apoptosis, and ferroptosis. In this review, we summarize the associations among iron metabolism, ferroptosis, and ferroptosis-related lncRNA in tumorigenesis. This information will help deepen understanding of the role of lncRNA in iron metabolism and raise the possibility of targeting lncRNA and ferroptosis in cancer combination therapy.