Regulation of ferroptosis by non-coding RNAs in the development and treatment of cancer

Ferroptosis, a relatively recently discovered type of cell death that is iron dependent and nonapoptotic, is involved in the accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS), and has been shown to serve a vital role in various pathological processes, including those underlying neurodegeneration, ischemic reperfusion injury, acute organ injury, and in particular, tumor biology. Emerging evidence has highlighted the roles of ferroptosis in the development and resistance to chemoradiotherapy in cancer. Recently, an increasing number of studies have shown that non-coding RNAs modulate the process of ferroptotic cell death, and this has further highlighted the potential of regulation of ferroptosis as a means of cancer management. Although these studies have highlighted the critical role of ferroptosis in cancer therapeutics, the roles of ferroptosis induced by non-coding RNAs in cancer development remain unclear. Herein, the current body of knowledge of ferroptosis in cancer is summarized and an overview of the mechanisms of ferroptosis and the functions of non-coding RNAs in regulating ferroptotic cell death are discussed. The future status of ferroptosis in cancer management is deliberated and strategies for treatment of therapy-resistant cancers are discussed.