Research Progress in Regulation of Ferroptosis by Epigallocatechin-3- gallate in Tumor Cells

Ferroptosis is an identified form of regulated cell death different from cell necrosis, autophagy, and apoptosis, characterized by iron-dependent accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species. The processes of ferroptosis are mainly related to iron metabolism disorder, inactivation of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and coenzyme Q10-dependent pathway. Inducing ferroptosis is considered a promising strategy to fight against cancers, especially apoptosis-resistant tumors. Epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) is the predominately active substance in green tea, which is widely consumed worldwide as a beverage. Recently, EGCG has been proved to play an important role in inducing ferroptosis by modulation of the iron metabolism and promotion of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) protein degradation. Therefore, this review mainly elaborates the regulating effects of EGCG on ferroptosis, aiming to create a new space for the research and development of novel anticancer drugs.