2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (36): 7880-7888

Mechanism and potential application strategies of pyroptosis in breast cancer treatment

Ran Yaqin1, 2, Chen Xi2, Xie Yanne2, Yuan Jun1, 2   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have indicated that pyroptosis plays a key role in the progression of cancer. In recent years, research has shown that pyroptosis is inextricably linked to the occurrence, development, and treatment of breast cancer. The development of effective pyroptosis-based therapeutic strategies has become a hot topic in the field of breast cancer treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively analyze the mechanisms of pyroptosis, explore the role of pyroptosis in the anti-tumor effects in breast cancer, and its potential application value in clinical treatment.
METHODS: Using English search terms “pyroptosis, breast cancer, inflammasome, gasdermin, caspase, drug resistance, treatment”, PubMed database was searched for articles published from inception to August 2024. Through the preliminary screening of reading titles and abstracts, literature with poor relevance to the research content, outdated information, repeated views, and lack of authority was excluded. Finally, 121 articles were included for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Pyroptosis is a special form of programmed cell death that is carried out by the activation of the gasdermin family of proteins, showing potential application value in the treatment of breast cancer. Long-term or improper treatment can lead to drug resistance in cancer cells; research on the mechanism of pyroptosis helps to overcome resistance deficiencies. Pyroptosis can trigger immunogenic cell death, promoting the release of tumor-specific antigens, thereby activating the immune system and enhancing its ability to recognize and clear tumor cells. The expression levels of pyroptosis-related genes can serve as prognostic indicators for breast cancer, helping to assess patients’ treatment responses and survival periods. Research on the mechanisms of pyroptosis can provide new strategies for the treatment of breast cancer, such as targeted drugs and therapeutic methods that induce pyroptosis, contributing to the realization of personalized treatment plans for breast cancer.

Key words: pyroptosis, breast cancer, inflammasomes, gasdermin family protein, caspase family protein, prognostic value, engineered tissue construction