Regulatory network of ferroptosis and autophagy by targeting oxidative stress defense using sulfasalazine in triple-negative breast cancer.

Aims: The cellular defense system against oxidative stress is important for the survival ability and sensitization in chemotherapy; however, the regulatory mechanisms remain unknown in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ferroptosis and autophagy by targeting the defense of oxidative stress through the cystine transporter (xCT) using sulfasalazine (SASP), which is a widely employed xCT inhibitor.

Main Methods: We analyzed the cell death process of SASP in human TNBC cells, and examined the effects of SASP on tumor progression by using xenograft mouse model.