Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2026

En Face Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide in Endothelial Layer of Intact Arteries
08:58

En Face Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide in Endothelial Layer of Intact Arteries

Published on: February 25, 2016

Emerging role of nitric oxide in cancer

P A Brennan1, I P Downie, J D Langdon

  • 1Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK.

The British Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
|November 30, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Nitric oxide, a biological messenger, has diverse roles in tumor growth and metastasis. This review focuses on its complex actions and relevance to oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Nitric oxide (NO) identified as a biological messenger in 1987.
  • NO is a free radical with diverse, incompletely understood actions.
  • Significant research exists on NO, but limited focus on head and neck cancers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the history and biological roles of nitric oxide.
  • To explore the complex involvement of NO in solid tumor growth and metastasis.
  • To highlight the potential significance of NO for oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of nitric oxide research.
  • Analysis of NO's dual role in tumor progression (inhibitory and promoting).
  • Focus on studies relevant to head and neck oncology.

Main Results:

  • Nitric oxide exhibits complex, context-dependent effects on tumor growth and metastasis.
  • Evidence suggests both tumor-inhibitory and tumor-promoting activities of NO.
  • A minority of existing research specifically addresses NO in head and neck cancers.

Conclusions:

  • Nitric oxide is a molecule of significant interest in cancer research.
  • Understanding NO's role is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
  • Further investigation into NO's function in oral and maxillofacial surgery is warranted.

More Related Videos

Application of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Nitric Oxide (NO•) Probes, the geNOps, for Real-time Imaging of NO• Signals in Single Cells08:32

Application of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Nitric Oxide (NO•) Probes, the geNOps, for Real-time Imaging of NO• Signals in Single Cells

Published on: March 16, 2017

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds08:23

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds

Published on: February 16, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply01:24

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits.  Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway01:28

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

Nitric oxide (NO), an inorganic gas, acts as a potent second messenger in most animal and plant tissues. NO diffuses out of the cells that produce it and enters the neighboring cells to generate a downstream response. NO synthase (NOS) catalyzes NO production by the deamination of the amino acid arginine. There are three isoforms of NOS. Endothelial cells have endothelial NOS (eNOS), nerve and muscle cells have neuronal NOS (nNOS), and macrophages produce inducible NOS (iNOS) upon exposure to...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...