Overview

• Fento-1, a fluorescent phospholipid degrader, has shown significant tumor reduction in preclinical models of metastatic breast cancer.
• The molecule exploits high lysosomal iron content in drug-tolerant persister cancer cells to trigger ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death.
• Fento-1 demonstrated pronounced cytotoxic effects in pancreatic cancer and sarcoma biopsies, underscoring its potential across multiple cancer types.
• The molecule targets cancer cell membranes, accumulates in lysosomes, and activates iron to generate reactive radicals that degrade lipids and cause cell death.
• Clinical trials are now needed to validate whether this approach can complement existing chemotherapy for treatment-resistant, metastatic cancers.