Published on August 2021 | Oxidative Stress

The Involvement of the Oxidative Stress Status in Cancer Pathology: A Double View on the Role of the Antioxidants

logo Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity + Journal Menu PDF Article Sections Special Issue Strategies for Modulating Oxidative Stress Under Diverse Physiological and Pathological Conditions 2021 View this Special Issue Review Article | Open Access Volume 2021 |Article ID 9965916 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9965916 Kamal Fatima Zahra, Radu Lefter, Ahmad Ali, Ech-Chahad Abdellah, Constantin Trus, Alin Ciobica, Daniel Timofte, "The Involvement of the Oxidative Stress Status in Cancer Pathology: A Double View on the Role of the Antioxidants", Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2021, Article ID 9965916, 25 pages, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9965916 Hide citation The Involvement of the Oxidative Stress Status in Cancer Pathology: A Double View on the Role of the Antioxidants Kamal Fatima Zahra,1 Radu Lefter,2 Ahmad Ali ,3 Ech-Chahad Abdellah,4 Constantin Trus ,5 Alin Ciobica ,6 and Daniel Timofte7 Show more Academic Editor: Karolina Szewczyk-Golec Published 05 Aug 2021 Abstract Oxygen-free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS), are known by their “double-sided” nature in biological systems. The beneficial effects of ROS involve physiological roles as weapons in the arsenal of the immune system (destroying bacteria within phagocytic cells) and role in programmed cell death (apoptosis). On the other hand, the redox imbalance in favor of the prooxidants results in an overproduction of the ROS/RNS leading to oxidative stress. This imbalance can, therefore, be related to oncogenic stimulation. High levels of ROS disrupt cellular processes by nonspecifically attacking proteins, lipids, and DNA. It appears that DNA damage is the key player in cancer initiation and the formation of 8-OH-G, a potential biomarker for carcinogenesis. The harmful effect of ROS is neutralized by an antioxidant protection treatment as they convert ROS into less reactive species. However, contradictory epidemiological results show that supplementation above physiological doses recommended for antioxidants and taken over a long period can lead to harmful effects and even increase the risk of cancer. Thus, we are describing here some of the latest updates on the involvement of oxidative stress in cancer pathology and a double view on the role of the antioxidants in this context and how this could be relevant in the management and pathology of cancer.