title: The Nrf2/HO-1 Axis in Cancer Cell Growth and Chemoresistance.
abstract: The transcription factor, nuclear factor erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2), acts as a sensor of oxidative or electrophilic stresses and plays a pivotal role in redox homeostasis. Oxidative or electrophilic agents cause a conformational change in the Nrf2 inhibitory protein Keap1 inducing the nuclear translocation of the transcription factor which, through its binding to the antioxidant/electrophilic response element (ARE/EpRE), regulates the expression of antioxidant and detoxifying genes such as heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Nrf2 and HO-1 are frequently upregulated in different types of tumours and correlate with tumour progression, aggressiveness, resistance to therapy, and poor prognosis. This review focuses on the Nrf2/HO-1 stress response mechanism as a promising target for anticancer treatment which is able to overcome resistance to therapies.
authors.affiliation: Giannina Gaslini Institute, Via Gerolamo Gaslini 5, 16147 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Furfaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Via L. B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Traverso
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Via L. B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Domenicotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Via L. B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piras
authors.affiliation: Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Piazza S. Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moretta
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Via L. B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Marinari
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Via L. B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pronzato
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Via L. B. Alberti 2, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nitti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495635:NFE2L2 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1