title: Redox proteins and radiotherapy.
abstract: Although conventional radiotherapy can directly damage DNA and other organic molecules within cells, most of the damage and the cytotoxicity of such ionising radiation, comes from the production of ions and free radicals produced via interactions with water. This 'indirect effect', a form of oxidative stress, can be modulated by a variety of systems within cells that are in place to, in normal situations, maintain homeostasis and redox balance. If cancer cells express high levels of antioxidant redox proteins, they may be more resistant to radiation and so targeting such systems may be a profitable strategy to increase therapeutic efficacy of conventional radiotherapy. An overview, with exemplars, of the main systems regulating redox homeostasis is supplied and discussed in relation to their use as prognostic and predictive biomarkers, and how targeting such proteins and systems may increase radiosensitivity and, potentially, improve the radiotherapeutic response.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, University of Nottingham, School of Medicine, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Clinical Oncology, University of Nottingham, School of Medicine, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, City Hospital Campus, Nottingham, UK. Electronic address: stewart.martin@nottingham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000378:metabolism; D054477:Glutaredoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D054464:Peroxiredoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013879:Thioredoxins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D054477:Glutaredoxins; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013879:Thioredoxins; D054464:Peroxiredoxins; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Radiosensitivity; radiotherapy; reactive oxygen species; redox homeostasis; redox imaging; redox proteins