How radiotherapy overcomes tumor radioresistance
Copper-dependent cell death is termed cuproptosis.
The researchers reveal that radiotherapy (RT) elevates mitochondrial copper and induces cuproptosis independent of apoptosis and ferroptosis by upregulating copper transporter 1 (CTR1) and depleting mitochondrial glutathione (a copper chelator).
Furthermore, BACH1 downregulation confers radioresistance by upregulating MT1E/X-mediated cuproptosis defense.
Correspondingly, copper-loaded copper ionophores restore RT sensitivity by enhancing cuproptosis, highlighting a therapeutic strategy to overcome tumor radioresistance.
https://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/fulltext/S1535-6108(25)00132-1
https://sciencemission.com/Radiotherapy-promotes-cuproptosis
