Fedele, Palma, Santoro, Anna Natalizia, Pini, Francesca, Pellegrino, Marcello, Polito, Giuseppe, De Luca, Maria Chiara, Pignatelli, Antonietta, Tancredi, Michele, Lagattolla, Valeria, Anglani, Alessandro, Guarini, Chiara, Pinto, Antonello, and Bracciale, Pietro
Simple Summary: Lung cancer presents significant therapeutic challenges, driving the exploration of novel treatment strategies. Programmed cell death (PCD) mechanisms, including apoptosis, autophagy, and programmed necrosis, are crucial in lung cancer pathogenesis and treatment response. Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to tumor progression and therapy resistance. Immunonutrition, using specific nutrients to modulate immune function, and metabolic reprogramming, a hallmark of cancer cells, offer promising intervention avenues. Nutritional interventions, such as omega-3 fatty acids, modulate PCD pathways in cancer cells, while targeting metabolic pathways implicated in apoptosis regulation presents a compelling therapeutic approach. Clinical evidence supports the role of immunonutritional interventions, including omega-3 fatty acids, in enhancing PCD and improving treatment outcomes in lung cancer patients. Additionally, synthetic analogues of natural compounds, like resveratrol, show promising anticancer properties by modulating apoptotic signaling pathways. This review highlights the convergence of immunonutrition, metabolism, and PCD pathways in lung cancer biology, emphasizing the potential for therapeutic exploration. Further elucidation of the specific molecular mechanisms governing these interactions is crucial for translating these findings into clinical practice and enhancing lung cancer management. Lung cancer presents significant therapeutic challenges, motivating the exploration of novel treatment strategies. Programmed cell death (PCD) mechanisms, encompassing apoptosis, autophagy, and programmed necrosis, are pivotal in lung cancer pathogenesis and the treatment response. Dysregulation of these pathways contributes to tumor progression and therapy resistance. Immunonutrition, employing specific nutrients to modulate immune function, and metabolic reprogramming, a hallmark of cancer cells, offer promising avenues for intervention. Nutritional interventions, such as omega-3 fatty acids, exert modulatory effects on PCD pathways in cancer cells, while targeting metabolic pathways implicated in apoptosis regulation represents a compelling therapeutic approach. Clinical evidence supports the role of immunonutritional interventions, including omega-3 fatty acids, in augmenting PCD and enhancing treatment outcomes in patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, synthetic analogs of natural compounds, such as resveratrol, demonstrate promising anticancer properties by modulating apoptotic signaling pathways. This review underscores the convergence of immunonutrition, metabolism, and PCD pathways in lung cancer biology, emphasizing the potential for therapeutic exploration in this complex disease. Further elucidation of the specific molecular mechanisms governing these interactions is imperative for translating these findings into clinical practice and improving lung cancer management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]