RNF217-KEAP1-NRF2 feedback loop confers therapeutic resistance by inhibiting ferroptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Resistance to chemoradiotherapy is a crucial factor limiting the efficacy of therapy and prognosis of esophageal cancer. It is necessary to elucidate the key genes and regulatory mechanisms responsible for therapeutic resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). In this study, we found a relationship between ferroptosis and therapeutic sensitivity in ESCC and identified the ring finger protein 217 (RNF217) as a new regulator of ferroptosis associated with resistance to chemoradiotherapy in ESCC. Mechanistically, RNF217 interacts with kelch like ECH associated protein 1 (KEAP1) and promotes its ubiquitination and degradation, resulting in nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) evading KEAP1-mediated degradation and, consequently, enhanced NRF2 signaling and led to ferroptosis resistance. Furthermore, NRF2 facilitated the transcription of RNF217 by binding to antioxidant response elements in the RNF217 promoter upon irradiation. Overall, our findings indicate that the RNF217-KEAP1-NRF2 feedback loop is a previously unrecognized mechanism regulating resistance to chemoradiotherapy in ESCC and could be a target to overcome therapeutic resistance in ESCC.