The antioxidant paradox: what are antioxidants and how should they be used in a therapeutic context for cancer. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bonner, Michael Y; Arbiser, Jack L
• Is Part Of: Future medicinal chemistry. Volume 6:Number 12(2014)
• Page Start: 1413
• Page End: 1422
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Pharmaceutical chemistry -- Periodicals; 615.19005
• DOI: 10.4155/fmc.14.86
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-8919

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species have long been asdescribed as being carcinogens and therapeutic agents and having signaling activities in cancer cells. So-called antioxidants have yet to make a clinical impact on the treatment of human cancer. The reasons for this failure are several. First, many agents that are called antioxidants are truly antioxidants at a given dose, but this dose may not have been given in clinical trials. Second, many agents are not antioxidants at all. Third, not all tumors use reactive oxygen as a signaling mechanism. Finally, reactive oxygen inhibition is often insufficient to kill or regress a tumor cell by itself, but requires sequential introduction of a therapeutic agent for maximal effect. We hope to provide a framework for the logical use of these agents in cancer.