Pyroptosis in Cancer Cells and its Perspectives in Nanomedicine

Pyroptosis is a cell death mechanism that appears as an inflammatory form of cell death triggered by inflammasomes and disrupts a human protein encoded by the GSDMD gene in chromosome 8 (Gasdermin D) and by cytokine activation. Scientific facts have already indicated that the association between pyroptosis and cancer is extremely complicated, since pyroptosis´ effects on cancer cells can change depending on the affected tissues and genetic differences. For example, pyroptosis can inhibit tumor progress; however, as a pro-inflammatory process, it can create an appropriate microenvironment for tumor growth. Nevertheless, the literature in the field has recently addressed important cancer treatment perspectives enabled by this process. The aim of the current study is to address a new nanomedicine aspect associated with pyroptosis.