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Molecular mechanisms of ROS-modulated cancer chemoresistance and therapeutic strategies

Xiaoting Zhou1, Biao An1, Yi Lin1

  • 1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Development and Related Disease of Women and Children Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, PR China.

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie
|June 24, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are crucial in cancer drug resistance. Understanding ROS functions can help develop therapies to overcome chemoresistance by targeting ROS modulation in resistant cancer cells.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Drug resistance is a major challenge in cancer therapy.
  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a complex role in cancer development and progression.
  • Elevated ROS levels and antioxidant content are observed in drug-resistant cancer cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature on ROS production and regulation in cancer.
  • To elucidate the multifaceted roles of ROS in modulating cancer chemoresistance.
  • To explore the potential of ROS-targeted therapies for overcoming drug resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications.
  • Analysis of ROS sources, regulation, and functions in cancer.
  • Synthesis of data on ROS involvement in chemoresistance mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • ROS are central regulators of cancer development and drug resistance.
  • ROS influence chemoresistance through transcription factors, cancer stem cells, and the tumor microenvironment.
  • Higher ROS and antioxidant levels are characteristic of drug-resistant cells.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting ROS modulation offers a promising strategy to sensitize resistant cancer cells.
  • Understanding ROS functions is key to developing novel therapeutic approaches for overcoming cancer drug resistance.
  • ROS-targeted therapies hold potential for improving treatment outcomes in resistant cancers.
Keywords:
Cellular redox balanceChemoresistanceROSTarget therapy

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