Beta-elemene promotes ferroptosis to improve the sensitivity of imatinib in gastrointestinal stromal tumours by targeting N6AMT1

This article explores a novel approach to overcoming imatinib resistance in gastrointestinal stromal tumors and identifies a link between imatinib resistance and reduced ferroptosis activity. Beta-elemene is presented as a potential therapeutic agent that can induce ferroptosis, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of imatinib in resistant GIST cells. Mechanistically, beta-elemene targets N6AMT1, which in turn activates the NRF2-HMOX1 pathway to promote ferroptosis. Ultimately, the findings suggest that combining beta-elemene with imatinib could represent a promising strategy to improve treatment outcomes for GIST patients who have developed resistance.