Targeting programmed cell death pathways in gastric cancer: a focus on pyroptosis, apoptosis, necroptosis and PANoptosis.

Gastric cancer (GC) is recognized as one of the most prevalent and serious malignancies, distinguished by its high incidence and fatality rates. Given the considerable mortality rate associated with GC, it is imperative to clarify the related pathways of GC development and further identify feasible targets for rational targeted therapy. Accumulating evidence reveals that programmed cell death (PCD) is a crucial element in both the progression and treatment of cancer. Pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis are three well-studied types of PCD, and a link between them and GC has been established in recent studies. PANoptosis, a comparatively novel type of PCD, shares key traits with pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis, yet cannot be entirely illustrated by any single model. PANoptosis has been discovered to exert an impact on multiple diseases, including cancer, infections, and inflammatory conditions, consequently offering novel perceptions into the progression and treatment of GC. This review seeks to encapsulate the emerging roles and therapeutic potential of pyroptosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, and PANoptosis in GC, laying the groundwork for the advancement of innovative treatment methods that target important signaling pathways connected with these four forms of PCD.