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Production and Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species ROS in Cancers
07:17

Production and Detection of Reactive Oxygen Species ROS in Cancers

Published on: November 21, 2011

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Reactive oxygen species and tumor dissemination: Allies no longer

Cecilia Herraiz1, Eva Crosas-Molist1, Victoria Sanz-Moreno1

  • 1Tumour Plasticity Laboratory, Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, King's College London , London SE1 1UL, UK.

Molecular & Cellular Oncology
|June 17, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were thought to cause cancer, but new research shows they protect against cancer spread. This finding helps explain why antioxidant treatments for cancer prevention have largely failed in clinical trials.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress are traditionally linked to cancer promotion.
  • Antioxidant therapies have been widely investigated for cancer prevention, with limited success.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of ROS in cancer metastasis.
  • To reconcile the conflicting roles of ROS in carcinogenesis and cancer dissemination.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on ROS and cancer.
  • Analysis of experimental data on ROS in metastatic models (details not provided in abstract).

Main Results:

  • Evidence suggests ROS play a protective role in the metastatic spread of cancer.
  • This protective function contrasts with their established role in initiating cancer.

Conclusions:

  • The dual role of ROS in cancer (promoting initiation, inhibiting metastasis) complicates antioxidant strategies.
  • Understanding ROS's context-dependent functions is crucial for developing effective cancer prevention and treatment approaches.
Keywords:
Amoeboid migrationDNA damageP53PIG3RHO GTPasesROCKantioxidantscancer metastasisreactive oxygen species (ROS)

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