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Author Spotlight: Efficient Detection of Immune Cell-Infiltration in Cancer Tissues Using Fluorescent Immunohistochemistry
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NADPH-Related Enzymes and Cancer: Facts and Insights Into the Application of Immunohistochemistry

Camila M Scudeler1,2, Keila Samantha da Silva3, Rafaela V N Silva1,4

  • 1Department of Pathology, Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, uftm.edu.br.

Biochemistry Research International
|February 19, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells use antioxidant defenses, reliant on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), to grow. This review examines NADPH-related enzymes via immunohistochemistry (IHC) as potential biomarkers for cancer aggressiveness and prognosis.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Cancer cells activate antioxidant defenses to survive and grow during tumorigenesis and metastasis.
  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging proteins require nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) for function.
  • NADPH metabolism is regulated by specific enzymes, identified as potential biomarkers for cancer aggressiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review protein expression of NADPH-related enzymes using immunohistochemistry (IHC).
  • To assess the association between these enzymes and cancer progression factors like survival, staging, metastasis, and recurrence.
  • To evaluate the potential of NADPH-related enzymes as prognostic biomarkers in human cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on studies utilizing immunohistochemistry (IHC).
  • Analysis of protein expression of various NADPH-related metabolic enzymes in human cancers.
  • Correlation of enzyme expression levels with clinical parameters of cancer progression.

Main Results:

  • Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), malic enzymes, and methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2) show consistent IHC results related to cancer aggressiveness.
  • These enzymes are identified as the most pertinent for IHC-based assessment of cancer prognosis.
  • Other enzymes like glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) require further investigation.

Conclusions:

  • IHC assessment of specific NADPH-related enzymes, particularly G6PD, malic enzymes, and MTHFD2, shows promise for predicting tumor prognosis.
  • These enzymes can serve as valuable biomarkers for cancer aggressiveness.
  • Further research is needed to explore the full potential of other NADPH-related enzymes as IHC biomarkers.
Keywords:
NADPHcancerenzymesimmunohistochemistry

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