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Polystyrene Microplastics Induce Radiotherapy Resistance in Lung Cancer by Suppressing Ferroptosis Through NF-κB Activation

Antioxidants and Redox Signaling 2025
Heng Zhou, Yali Liu, Yanxian Ren, Ningzu Jiang, Ao Sun, Song Wu, Tao Zhu, Jin Li, Chenghao Li

Summary

Researchers found that polystyrene microplastics impaired radiotherapy efficacy in lung cancer cells by suppressing ferroptosis—a form of iron-dependent cell death—through NF-κB activation, providing the first evidence that microplastics may contribute to cancer therapy resistance.

Polymers
Body Systems

This study provides the first evidence that PS-MPs impair radiotherapy efficacy in lung cancer by suppressing ferroptosis via NF-κB activation. Unlike previous research focusing on microplastic toxicity in normal tissues, our findings highlight their oncological impact and potential role as an environmental factor influencing cancer therapy resistance. These results emphasize the need for further investigation into microplastics as emerging disruptors of redox homeostasis in oncology and their broader implications for environmental and cancer research. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 44, 118-133.

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