Targeting Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Development and the Potential Protective Effect of Phytochemicals

Breast cancer continues to represent one of the most widespread and lethal health afflictions on a global scale. The advancement of this malignancy is predominantly influenced by genetic mutations that precipitate unregulated cellular growth and proliferation, with oxidative stress being a crucial f...

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Main Authors: Anchal Dubey, Bechan Sharma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Drugs and Drug Candidates
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2813-2998/4/2/23
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author Anchal Dubey
Bechan Sharma
author_facet Anchal Dubey
Bechan Sharma
author_sort Anchal Dubey
collection DOAJ
description Breast cancer continues to represent one of the most widespread and lethal health afflictions on a global scale. The advancement of this malignancy is predominantly influenced by genetic mutations that precipitate unregulated cellular growth and proliferation, with oxidative stress being a crucial factor in all phases of carcinogenic development. Oxidative stress emerges from a disruption in the equilibrium between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, which inflicts damage on cellular components and facilitates the onset of cancer. Although numerous studies have advocated the notion that augmenting antioxidant levels may confer protection against cancer, other investigations have yielded contradictory results. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of antioxidants in cancer prophylaxis remains contentious, with research exhibiting variable outcomes. Certain studies have indicated that a high consumption of fruits and vegetables abundant in antioxidants may lower cancer risk. However, the irrefutable evidence is currently absent. Furthermore, the chemotherapeutic agents, such as taxanes and cisplatin, utilized in breast cancer management are reported to produce ROS as an integral aspect of their therapeutic mechanisms, thereby highlighting the intricate interplay between redox equilibrium and oncological treatment. This review emphasizes the pro-oxidant hypothesis, which asserts that heightened levels of ROS may selectively annihilate cancer cells, given that normal cells generally sustain low levels of ROS. Some recent reports have indicated that the application of plant-based molecules as a therapeutic supplement may help treat breast cancer effectively. However, a comprehensive understanding of the role of oxidative stress in breast cancer and use of antioxidants could pave the way for more precisely targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at the modulation of redox homeostasis.
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spelling doaj-art-2acd707210e34ffe9db3f83f309e08522025-08-20T03:27:15ZengMDPI AGDrugs and Drug Candidates2813-29982025-05-01422310.3390/ddc4020023Targeting Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Development and the Potential Protective Effect of PhytochemicalsAnchal Dubey0Bechan Sharma1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, IndiaDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj 211002, IndiaBreast cancer continues to represent one of the most widespread and lethal health afflictions on a global scale. The advancement of this malignancy is predominantly influenced by genetic mutations that precipitate unregulated cellular growth and proliferation, with oxidative stress being a crucial factor in all phases of carcinogenic development. Oxidative stress emerges from a disruption in the equilibrium between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants, which inflicts damage on cellular components and facilitates the onset of cancer. Although numerous studies have advocated the notion that augmenting antioxidant levels may confer protection against cancer, other investigations have yielded contradictory results. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of antioxidants in cancer prophylaxis remains contentious, with research exhibiting variable outcomes. Certain studies have indicated that a high consumption of fruits and vegetables abundant in antioxidants may lower cancer risk. However, the irrefutable evidence is currently absent. Furthermore, the chemotherapeutic agents, such as taxanes and cisplatin, utilized in breast cancer management are reported to produce ROS as an integral aspect of their therapeutic mechanisms, thereby highlighting the intricate interplay between redox equilibrium and oncological treatment. This review emphasizes the pro-oxidant hypothesis, which asserts that heightened levels of ROS may selectively annihilate cancer cells, given that normal cells generally sustain low levels of ROS. Some recent reports have indicated that the application of plant-based molecules as a therapeutic supplement may help treat breast cancer effectively. However, a comprehensive understanding of the role of oxidative stress in breast cancer and use of antioxidants could pave the way for more precisely targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at the modulation of redox homeostasis.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-2998/4/2/23oxidative stressbreast cancerphytochemicalsReactive Oxygen Speciesredox homeostasis
spellingShingle Anchal Dubey
Bechan Sharma
Targeting Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Development and the Potential Protective Effect of Phytochemicals
Drugs and Drug Candidates
oxidative stress
breast cancer
phytochemicals
Reactive Oxygen Species
redox homeostasis
title Targeting Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Development and the Potential Protective Effect of Phytochemicals
title_full Targeting Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Development and the Potential Protective Effect of Phytochemicals
title_fullStr Targeting Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Development and the Potential Protective Effect of Phytochemicals
title_full_unstemmed Targeting Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Development and the Potential Protective Effect of Phytochemicals
title_short Targeting Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Breast Cancer Development and the Potential Protective Effect of Phytochemicals
title_sort targeting oxidative stress biomarkers in breast cancer development and the potential protective effect of phytochemicals
topic oxidative stress
breast cancer
phytochemicals
Reactive Oxygen Species
redox homeostasis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2813-2998/4/2/23
work_keys_str_mv AT anchaldubey targetingoxidativestressbiomarkersinbreastcancerdevelopmentandthepotentialprotectiveeffectofphytochemicals
AT bechansharma targetingoxidativestressbiomarkersinbreastcancerdevelopmentandthepotentialprotectiveeffectofphytochemicals