Targeting Oxidative Stress: A Novel Approach in Mitigating Cancer

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) plays a vital role in normal cellular homeostasis and development of pathophysiological conditions. Researches round the globe suggest that cancer cell possesses higher amount of intracellular ROS and impaired metabolic activity along with mitochondrial dysfunction. ROS can initiate cancer, but the primary endogenous elevation of oxidants in malignant tissues leave them more susceptible to secondary stresses. Despite the crucial role of ROS in the development of cancer, anticancer therapies are suggested both by scavenging the excessive intracellular ROS and also by inducing ROS generation through exogenous oxidative insult. In this commentary, we have discussed the dual effect of ROS on the development cancer and emergence of novel anti-cancer therapies by modulating the accumulation of ROS.