Reactive oxygen species in redox cancer therapy

Article ID	Journal	Published Year	Pages	File Type
10902030	Cancer Letters	2015	8 Pages	PDF

Abstract

The role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells has been intensively studied for the past two decades. Cancer cells mostly have higher basal ROS levels than their normal counterparts. The induction of ROS has been shown to be associated with cancer development, metastasis, progression, and survival. Various therapeutic approaches targeting intracellular ROS levels have yielded mixed results. As widely accepted dietary supplements, antioxidants demonstrate both ROS scavenging ability and anti-cancer characteristics. However, antioxidants may not always be safe to use since excessive intake of antioxidants could lead to serious health concerns. In this review, we have evaluated the production and scavenging systems of ROS in cells, as well as the beneficial and harmful roles of ROS in cancer cells. We also examine the effect of antioxidants in cancer treatment, the effect of combined treatment of antioxidants with traditional cancer therapies, and the side effects of excessive antioxidant intake.

Keywords

GSR DR5 GCLC MTP TrxR Nrf2 HIF-1 GSH EGCG mTOR UVR TLR GSSG NOS GCL EGC Epigallocatechin-3-gallate epigallocatechin epicatechin AMPK GCLM Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial epicatechin-3-gallate isoliquiritigenin Psoralidin TXN Jnk EGF O2•–ONOO–5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase keap1 c-Jun N-terminal kinase isl MAPK ROS Hydrogen peroxide Antioxidant Akt Ultraviolet radiation ECG Select mitochondrial permeability transition PSO ionizing radiation thioredoxin reductase Oxidative stress Tumor thioredoxin Toll-like receptor ATM Hydroxyl radical Redox electron transport chain SOD Cancer therapy Selenium Superoxide Superoxide dismutase hypoxia-inducible factor 1 epidermal growth factor tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 TRAIL glutamate cysteine ligase tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand Nitric oxide nitric oxide synthase mammalian target of rapamycin H2O2 ETc Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 protein kinase B Peroxynitrite mitogen-activated protein kinases Glutathione glutathione disulfide Reactive oxygen species death receptor 5 •OH