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Molecular Mechanism of Oxidative Stress in Cancer and Its Therapeutics

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Handbook of Oxidative Stress in Cancer: Therapeutic Aspects

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Abstract

Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide, and persistent oxidative stress is considered as a proactive contributor to its pathogenesis. Oxidative stress is mainly identified by an increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced antioxidant defense system. Various exogenous and endogenous factors and altered metabolic processes produce different types of ROS that cause DNA damage, mutation, production of pro-carcinogens, and induced programmed cell death. These ROS alter various signaling pathways such as NF-kB, Nrf2, Akt/PI3K/mTOR, MAPK, p53, etc. which further regulate other downstream signaling molecules such as CREB, c-Myc, c-Jun, c-fos, etc., leading to initiation and progression of tumorigenesis. ROS also regulate the mechanism of angiogenesis and ensure the growth, survival, as well as invasion of tumor cells. Apart from cross talk between different signaling molecules, ROS and miRNAs work in close proximity and participate in tumorigenesis. Looking into the pro-carcinogenic role of ROS, many natural and synthetic antioxidants have been explored for their anticancer effect. These antioxidants not only abrogate the progression, proliferation, and invasion of tumors but also protect the healthy cells from the deleterious effect of anticancer drugs. However, another hypothesis justifies the anticancer effect of ROS and its need to increase the sensitivity of tumor cells toward the anticancer drug. Thus, it can be said that ROS act as a double-edged sword, and a fine line or boundary exists between the use of antioxidant drug and the need of ROS for management and treatment of cancer.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India

    Ashif Iqubal & Syed Ehtaishamul Haque

Authors
  1. Ashif Iqubal
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  2. Syed Ehtaishamul Haque
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept Biochem & Biophysics, C-Block, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal, India

    Sajal Chakraborti

Section Editor information

  1. Chair and Department of Toxicology, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, Kraków, Poland

    Maria Walczak

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Kalyani, Kalyani, West Bengal, India

    Tapati Chakraborti

  3. Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    Pulak Kar

  4. University of Burdwan, Bardhaman, West Bengal, India

    Somasri Dam

  5. Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Kuntal Dey

  6. Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA

    Muthusamy Kunnimalaiyaan

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Iqubal, A., Haque, S.E. (2022). Molecular Mechanism of Oxidative Stress in Cancer and Its Therapeutics. In: Chakraborti, S. (eds) Handbook of Oxidative Stress in Cancer: Therapeutic Aspects. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1247-3_150-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-1247-3_150-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-16-1247-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-16-1247-3

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