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Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research
Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Review

The role of cellular reactive oxygen species in cancer chemotherapy

Authors: Haotian Yang, Rehan M Villani, Haolu Wang, Matthew J Simpson, Michael S Roberts, Min Tang, Xiaowen Liang

Published in: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Most chemotherapeutics elevate intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and many can alter redox-homeostasis of cancer cells. It is widely accepted that the anticancer effect of these chemotherapeutics is due to the induction of oxidative stress and ROS-mediated cell injury in cancer. However, various new therapeutic approaches targeting intracellular ROS levels have yielded mixed results. Since it is impossible to quantitatively detect dynamic ROS levels in tumors during and after chemotherapy in clinical settings, it is of increasing interest to apply mathematical modeling techniques to predict ROS levels for understanding complex tumor biology during chemotherapy. This review outlines the current understanding of the role of ROS in cancer cells during carcinogenesis and during chemotherapy, provides a critical analysis of the methods used for quantitative ROS detection and discusses the application of mathematical modeling in predicting treatment responses. Finally, we provide insights on and perspectives for future development of effective therapeutic ROS-inducing anticancer agents or antioxidants for cancer treatment.
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Metadata
Title
The role of cellular reactive oxygen species in cancer chemotherapy
Authors
Haotian Yang
Rehan M Villani
Haolu Wang
Matthew J Simpson
Michael S Roberts
Min Tang
Xiaowen Liang
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1756-9966
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-018-0909-x

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