Abdullah Al Mamun,1,2 Peiwu Geng,1 Shuanghu Wang,1 Chuxiao Shao1 

1Key Laboratory of Joint Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Cancer of Lishui, The Lishui Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Lishui University, Lishui People’s Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, People’s Republic of China; 2Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, 325000, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Chuxiao Shao; Shuanghu Wang, Key Laboratory of Joint Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Cancer of Lishui, the Lishui Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, the First Affiliated Hospital of Lishui University, Lishui People’s Hospital, Lishui, Zhejiang, 323000, People’s Republic of China, Email scx1818@126.com; wangshuanghu@lsu.edu.cn

Abstract: Pyroptosis is an inflammatory cell death induced by inflammasomes that release several pro-inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death, has recently received increased interest both as a therapeutic and immunological mechanism. Numerous studies have provided substantial evidence supporting the involvement of inflammasomes and pyroptosis in a variety of pathological conditions including cancers, nerve damage, inflammatory diseases and metabolic conditions. Researchers have demonstrated that dysregulation of pyroptosis and inflammasomes contribute to the progression of endometriosis and gynecological malignancies. Current research also indicates that inflammasome and pyroptosis-dependent signaling pathways may further induce the progression of endometrial cancer (EC). More specifically, dysregulation of NLR family pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) and caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis play a contributory role in the pathogenesis and development of EC. Therefore, pyroptosis-regulated protein gasdermin D (GSDMD) may be an independent prognostic biomarker for the detection of EC. This review presents the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis-dependent signaling pathways and their contributory role and function in advancing EC. Moreover, this review offers new insights into potential future applications and innovative approaches in utilizing pyroptosis to develop effective anti-cancer therapies.

Keywords: endometrial cancer, pyroptosis, NLRP3, caspase-1, GSDMD, IL-1β, IL-18