title: Oncogenic potential of Nrf2 and its principal target protein heme oxygenase-1.
abstract: Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an essential component of cellular defense against a vast variety of endogenous and exogenous insults, including oxidative stress. Nrf2 acts as a master switch in the circuits upregulating the expression of various stress-response proteins, especially heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Paradoxically, however, recent studies have demonstrated oncogenic functions of Nrf2 and its major target protein HO-1. Levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 are elevated in many different types of human malignancies, which may facilitate the remodeling of the tumor microenvironment making it advantageous for the autonomic growth of cancer cells, metastasis, angiogenesis, and tolerance to chemotherapeutic agents and radiation and photodynamic therapy. In this context, the cellular stress response or cytoprotective signaling mediated via the Nrf2-HO-1 axis is hijacked by cancer cells for their growth advantage and survival of anticancer treatment. Therefore, Nrf2 and HO-1 may represent potential therapeutic targets in the management of cancer. This review highlights the roles of Nrf2 and HO-1 in proliferation of cancer cells, their tolerance/resistance to anticancer treatments, and metastasis or angiogenesis in tumor progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food & Nutrition, College of Human Ecology, Sungshin Women's University, Seoul 142-732, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Kyung
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Na
authors.affiliation: Tumor Microenvironment Global Core Research Institute, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea; Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Science, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, South Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-744, South Korea. Electronic address: surh@plaza.snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Surh
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015398:Signal Transduction; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495635:NFE2L2 protein, human; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1
keywords: Adaptive survival response; Antioxidant response elements; Chemoresistance; Free radicals; Heme oxygenase-1; Nrf2; Radioresistance; Redox balance