Contrary to mainstream press reports, antioxidants might not fight cancer. In fact, cancer cells seem to benefit from the action of antioxidants just as much as normal cells, and this could instead be exploited to prevent tumour growth. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are natural by-products of metabolism, and as they can damage DNA they are thought to promote cancer. Antioxidants mop up ROSs before they do any harm. It has long been known that some cancer cells produce large amounts of Nrf2, a protein important for removing ROSs. David Tuveson at the University of Cambridge and colleagues crossbred mice engineered to develop lung or pancreatic cancer with mice that lacked Nrf2.
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