Role of nitric oxide in the response to photooxidative stress in prostate cancer cells.

Role of nitric oxide in the response to photooxidative stress in prostate cancer cells. Biochem Pharmacol. 2020 Aug 20;:114205 Authors: D'Este F, Della Pietra E, Veronica Badillo Pazmay G, Xodo LE, Rapozzi V Abstract A continuous state of oxidative stress during inflammation contributes to the development of 25 % of human cancers. Epithelial and inflammatory cells release reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) that can damage DNA. ROS/RNS have biological implications in both chemoresistance and tumor recurrence. As several clinically employed anticancer drugs can generate ROS/RNS, we have addressed herein how inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide (iNOS/•NO) affect the molecular pathways implicated in the tumor response to oxidative stress. To mimic the oxidative stress associated with chemotherapy, we used a photosensitizer (pheophorbide a) that can generate ROS/RNS in a controlled manner. We investigated how iNOS/•NO modulates the tumor response to oxidative stress by involving the NF-κB and Nrf2 molecular pathways. We found that low levels of iNOS induce the development of a more aggressive tumor population, leading to survival, recurrence and resistance. By contrast, high levels of iNOS/•NO sensitize tumor cells to oxidative treatment, causing cell growth arrest. Our analysis showed that NF-κB and Nrf2, which are activated in response to oxidative stress, communicate with each other th...
Source: Biochemical Pharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tags: Biochem Pharmacol Source Type: research