Understanding of ROS-Inducing Strategy in Anticancer Therapy

Figure 1

Differential ROS levels in normal and cancer cells. Normal cells have a lower basal ROS level than cancer cells. In normal cells, a moderate ROS level is essential to promote cell proliferation and survival whereas an excessive ROS level has detrimental effects such as tumor progression and angiogenesis. The redox balance in cancer cells is readily regulated by increasing antioxidant processes. Once the ROS level exceeds the redox capacity in cancer cells, severe oxidative stress occurs, resulting in cancer cell death via the activation of apoptosis, autophagic cell death, and necroptosis.