ROS as a novel indicator to predict anticancer drug efficacy
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Abstract
Background: Mitochondria are considered a primary intracellular site of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Generally, cancer cells with mitochondrial genetic abnormalities (copy number change and mutations) have escalated ROS levels compared to normal cells. Since high levels of ROS can trigger apoptosis, treating cancer cells with low doses of mitochondria-targeting / ROS-stimulating agents may offer cancer-specific therapy. This study aimed to investigate how baseline ROS levels might influence cancer cells’ response to ROS-stimulating therapy. Methods: Four cancer and one normal cell lines were treated with a conventional drug (cisplatin) and a mitochondria-targeting agent (dequalinium chloride hydrate) separately and jointly. Cell viability was assessed and drug combination synergisms were indicated by the combination index (CI). Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were measured, and the relative expression levels of the genes and proteins involved in ROS-mediated apoptosis pathways were also investigated. Results: Our data showed a correlation between the baseline ROS level, mtDNAcn and drug sensitivity in the tested cells. Synergistic effect of both drugs was also observed with ROS being the key contributor in cell death. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that mitochondria-targeting therapy could be more effective compared to conventional treatments. In addition, cancer cells with low levels of ROS may be more sensitive to the treatment, while cells with high levels of ROS may be more resistant. Doubtlessly, further studies employing a wider range of cell lines and in vivo experiments are needed to validate our results. However, this study provides an insight into understanding the influence of intracellular ROS on drug sensitivity, and may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies to improve efficacy of anticancer therapy.
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Cancer cells usually have an increased level of intrinsic ROS.
“Usually, cancer cells have an increased level of intrinsic ROS [56].”
From 20-Hydroxyecdysone Confers Antioxidant and Antineoplastic Properties in Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells (2023) · cites this paper as [56]
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- Authors
- Zaidieh, T., Smith, J. R., Ball, K. E., & An, Q.
- Affiliations
- University of Portsmouth (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Zaidieh, Tarek
- An, Qian
- Venue
- BMC Cancer
- Published
- 2019-12
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1224-1224
- ISSN
- 1471-2407 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC6916036
- OpenAlex
- W2994686318
- Cited by
- 138
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 8
- FWCI
- 5.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Cancer (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- University of Portsmouth
- Cara
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Cell death mechanisms and regulation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Redox biology and oxidative stress
- Keywords
- reactive oxygen species, anticancer drug sensitivity, drug resistance, cisplatin, mitochondrial DNA copy number, mitochondrial membrane potential, drug synergy, combination index
- MeSH terms
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Cell Survival, Cisplatin, Dequalinium, Female, Humans, Male, Mitochondria, Neoplasms, Prognosis, Treatment Outcome, Reactive Oxygen Species, Cell Line, Tumor, Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
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