Molecular Targets of Oxidative Stress: Focus on Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2–Related Factor 2 Function in Leukemia and Other Cancers

Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that plays a central role in regulating cellular responses to oxidative stress. It governs the expression of a broad range of genes involved in antioxidant defense, detoxification, metabolism, and other cytoprotective pathw...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Syed K. Hasan, Sundarraj Jayakumar, Eliezer Espina Barroso, Anup Jha, Gianfranco Catalano, Santosh K. Sandur, Nelida I. Noguera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Cells
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/10/713
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that plays a central role in regulating cellular responses to oxidative stress. It governs the expression of a broad range of genes involved in antioxidant defense, detoxification, metabolism, and other cytoprotective pathways. In normal cells, the transient activation of Nrf2 serves as a protective mechanism to maintain redox homeostasis. However, the persistent or aberrant activation of Nrf2 in cancer cells has been implicated in tumor progression, metabolic reprogramming, and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These dual roles underscore the complexity of Nrf2 signaling and its potential as a therapeutic target. A deeper understanding of Nrf2 regulation in both normal and malignant contexts is essential for the development of effective Nrf2-targeted therapies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of Nrf2 regulation and function, highlighting its unique features in cancer biology, particularly its role in metabolic adaptation and drug resistance. Special attention is given to the current knowledge of Nrf2′s involvement in leukemia and emerging strategies for its therapeutic modulation.
ISSN:2073-4409