Combining 2-deoxy-D-glucose with electron transport chain blockers: a double-edged sword.

摘要

Oxidative stress, originating from reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals, provides a constant challenge to eukaryotic cell survival. Amongst many other biological roles, it is an important modulator of programmed-cell death, and any ability to augment or decrease its production might ameliorate diseases. Scientists have successfully exploited the oxidative stress common in cancer cells to preferentially kill malignant cells. Most cancer cells exhibit overproduction of ROS, which makes those cells more vulnerable to exogenous ROS-modulating agents that would not be toxic to normal cells that have a low ROS output.