title: Interfering with ROS Metabolism in Cancer Cells: The Potential Role of Quercetin.
abstract: A main feature of cancer cells, when compared to normal ones, is a persistent pro-oxidative state that leads to an intrinsic oxidative stress. Cancer cells have higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than normal cells, and ROS are, in turn, responsible for the maintenance of the cancer phenotype. Persistent ROS stress may induce adaptive stress responses, enabling cancer cells to survive with high levels of ROS and maintain cellular viability. However, excessive ROS levels render cancer cells highly susceptible to quercetin, one of the main dietary flavonoids. Quercetin depletes intracellular glutathione and increases intracellular ROS to a level that can cause cell death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125 Modena, Italy. andrea.cossarizza@unimore.it.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibellini
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinti
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Biasi
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roat
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertoncelli
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cossarizza