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"NRF2 addiction" in lung cancer cells and its impact on cancer therapy

Ahmed Hammad1, Akhileshwar Namani1, Mohamed Elshaer1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Department of Thoracic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, PR China.

Cancer Letters
|October 2, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-like factor 2 (NRF2) is crucial for cell protection but often hijacked in lung cancer. Inhibiting this NRF2 addiction shows promise for better lung cancer treatment outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Signaling

Background:

  • Nuclear factor erythroid 2-like factor 2 (NRF2) regulates antioxidant and detoxification proteins essential for redox homeostasis.
  • While NRF2 typically protects against cancer, its pathway is frequently altered in various cancers, including lung cancer.
  • Altered NRF2 signaling contributes to cancer hallmarks like proliferation, apoptosis evasion, angiogenesis, metastasis, and metabolic reprogramming.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in understanding NRF2-addicted lung cancer.
  • To highlight the role of NRF2 pathway alterations in lung cancer development and progression.
  • To discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting NRF2 in lung cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on NRF2 in lung cancer.
  • Analysis of NRF2's role in cancer hallmarks and signaling pathways.
  • Synthesis of evidence regarding NRF2's impact on treatment resistance and prognosis.

Main Results:

  • Constitutive NRF2 activation promotes lung tumorigenesis and resistance to therapies (chemotherapy, radiotherapy).
  • Lung cancer cells can become 'addicted' to NRF2 for their metabolic processes and survival.
  • NRF2 pathway alterations are linked to poor prognosis in lung cancer patients.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted inhibition of NRF2, in combination with standard treatments, offers a promising strategy to improve survival in NRF2-addicted lung cancers.
  • Understanding NRF2 addiction is key to developing more effective lung cancer therapies.
  • Further research into NRF2-targeted therapies is warranted for NRF2-addicted lung cancer cases.
Keywords:
Cancer metabolismChemoresistanceInhibitorsKEAP1Tumor progression

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