Future Possibilities ?
Identification of mutant variants of MLKL in Human Stomach Adenocarcinoma indicates the possibility of MLKL as a possible tumour suppressor. This could have implications into the likely outcome of a patients cancer by predictions based on which genes are mutated in the cancer. It is also possible that the presence of such mutation may alter the response of certain drug therapies against these cancers. If MLKL is found to be significant as a tumour suppressor drugs that specifically target common mutations of MLKL may also be produced which may prove an effective treatment against these cancers. Future direction in the treatment of cancer involving tumour suppressor mutation is to insert functioning tumour suppressor DNA into cancer cells in order to reduce their population, although this is currently infective given the low success of current gene therapy technologies it is possible that these may be utilised with tumour suppressors.
Since MLKL has been identified as at least capable of activating necroptosis if not solely responsible for it, it may be possible to inhibit this function in tissues that are repairable but undergoing significant damage. Necroptosis is an emergency response to major cellular damage and is not a healthy means of cell death. Necroptosis could be inhibited in tissues undergoing surgery perhaps to minimize the additional damage to the tissues that necroptosis is responsible for. It also seems highly likely that in addition to the physical stress, many toxins would trigger the activation of the necroptosis pathway. By inhibiting MLKL after or before attack by a toxin may be an effective treatment.
It can also be expected that future research into MLKL may involve investigation of its possible function in diseases where necroptosis is prematurely activated such as in Systemic Inflamatory Response Syndrome.