Francesca Ascenzi, Antonella Esposito, Sara Bruschini, Valentina Salvati, Claudia De Vitis, Valeria De Arcangelis, Giulia Ricci, Angiolina Catizione, Simona di Martino, Simonetta Buglioni, Massimiliano Bassi, Federico Venuta, Francesca De Nicola, Alice Massacci, Isabella Grassucci, Matteo Pallocca, Alberto Ricci, Maurizio Fanciulli, Gennaro Ciliberto, Rita Mancini
Scientific literature supports the evidence that cancer stem cells (CSCs) retain inside low reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and are, therefore, less susceptible to cell death, including ferroptosis, a type of cell death dependent on iron-driven lipid peroxidation. A collection of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) primary cell lines derived from malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) of patients was used to obtain 3D spheroids enriched for stem-like properties. We observed that the ferroptosis inducer RSL3 triggered lipid peroxidation and cell death in LUAD cells when grown in 2D conditions; however, when grown in 3D conditions, all cell lines underwent a phenotypic switch, exhibiting substantial resistance to RSL3 and, therefore, protection against ferroptotic cell death...
April 29, 2024: Cell Death & Disease