Research Progress on Ferroptosis-Inducing Compounds in Tumor Cells

Ferroptosis is a regulated form of cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Intracellular iron promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species via the Fenton reaction, leading to lipid peroxide accumulation, membrane damage, and subsequent cell death. Increasing evidence indicates that ferroptosis plays a critical role in cancer progression and therapeutic response. Recent studies have identified a diverse range of ferroptosis-inducing compounds, including natural products, semi-synthetic derivatives, and synthetic small molecules, which exert antitumor effects by targeting key regulatory nodes such as iron metabolism, system Xc-, and glutathione peroxidase 4. However, the clinical translation of ferroptosis-based strategies remains limited by insufficient tumor selectivity, systemic toxicity, the lack of reliable biomarkers, and adaptive resistance mechanisms. In this review, we summarize the molecular regulatory networks governing ferroptosis, critically evaluate representative ferroptosis-inducing compounds and the associated mechanisms of action, and discuss current translational challenges and unresolved controversies. Furthermore, an integrative framework is proposed to define ferroptosis as a context-dependent metabolic vulnerability in tumors, thereby providing a conceptual basis for the rational development of ferroptosis-based anticancer therapies.