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Role of hydrogen sulfide donors in cancer development and progression

Ebenezeri Erasto Ngowi1,2,3, Attia Afzal1,4, Muhammad Sarfraz1,3,4

  • 1Henan International Joint Laboratory for Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan 475004, China.

International Journal of Biological Sciences
|January 4, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) shows potential in cancer therapy, with donors affecting cell activities. Research is exploring how H2S donors can be used to treat various cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Numerous cancer therapeutic targets exist, but drug development remains challenging.
  • Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gasotransmitter, regulates crucial cellular processes like apoptosis and proliferation.
  • Reduced H2S levels are observed in many cancer types, suggesting a role in tumorigenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the therapeutic potential of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) donors in cancer treatment.
  • To analyze the impact of H2S donors on key cellular processes and signaling pathways relevant to cancer.
  • To summarize the current understanding of H2S donor efficacy and variability in preclinical cancer models.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating H2S donors in cancer research.
  • Analysis of experimental data on the effects of H2S donors on cancer cell behavior (e.g., proliferation, apoptosis, migration).
  • Examination of signaling pathways modulated by H2S donors in various cancer types.

Main Results:

  • H2S donors can act as either cancer suppressors or promoters, depending on factors like dose, duration, cell type, and specific donor used.
  • Treatment with H2S donors alters numerous signaling pathways involved in cancer progression.
  • The concentration- and context-dependent effects of H2S donors highlight the complexity of their role in cancer.

Conclusions:

  • H2S donors represent a promising, albeit complex, avenue for cancer therapy development.
  • Further research is needed to optimize the use of H2S donors and understand their precise mechanisms of action in different cancer contexts.
  • Targeted application of H2S donors could offer novel strategies for cancer treatment by modulating critical cellular functions.
Keywords:
CancerCellular processesH2S donorsHydrogen sulfideSignaling pathways

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