فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

Reactive oxygen species [ROS] are critical mediators that can either promote tumorigenesis at low levels by enhancing cell survival, proliferation, and migration or induce cell death at high levels through oxidative stress. This dual role underscores the importance of understanding the intricate redox balance within cancer cells. Elevated ROS levels in tumors are frequently countered by enhanced antioxidant mechanisms, allowing cancer cells to thrive in adverse environments and creating vulnerabilities that can be exploited therapeutically. This review consolidates current knowledge on modulating redox-dependent signaling pathways, including molecular mechanisms of redox regulation involving key transcription factors and kinases implicated in tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Identifying and targeting these pathways presents a promising strategy for cancer treatment, as perturbing redox balance could restore apoptotic functions and sensitize tumors to conventional therapies. Additionally, we highlight various redox-modulating agents, such as ascorbate and thioredoxin inhibitors, emphasizing their potential to target cancer cells while protecting normal tissues selectively. Despite these promising avenues, challenges remain, namely the heterogeneity of tumors, potential side effects, and the risk of drug resistance. Ongoing clinical trials exploring combinations of redox-targeting agents with existing treatments are essential to optimizing their therapeutic efficacy.