Multiple mechanisms have emerged where the engulfment of whole live cells, leading to the formation of what are called 'cell-in-cell' structures, induces cell death. Entosis is one such mechanism that drives cell-in-cell formation during carcinogenesis and development. Curiously, entotic cells participate actively in their own engulfment, by invading into their hosts, and are then killed non-cell-autonomously. Here we review the mechanisms of entosis and entotic cell death and the consequences of entosis on cell populations.
Keywords: Aneuploidy; Autophagy; Cannibalism; Cell competition; Cell-in-cell; Engulfment; Entosis; Entotic cell death; LAP; Phagocytosis.