The role of glutathione in cancer
- 11 August 2004
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Wiley in Cell Biochemistry and Function
- Vol. 22 (6), 343-352
- https://doi.org/10.1002/cbf.1149
Abstract
Glutathione is an abundant natural tripeptide found within almost all cells. Glutathione is highly reactive and is often found conjugated to other molecules via its sulfhydryl moiety. It instils several vital roles within a cell including antioxidation, maintenance of the redox state, modulation of the immune response and detoxification of xenobiotics. With respect to cancer, glutathione metabolism is able to play both protective and pathogenic roles. It is crucial in the removal and detoxification of carcinogens, and alterations in this pathway, can have a profound effect on cell survival. However, by conferring resistance to a number of chemotherapeutic drugs, elevated levels of glutathione in tumour cells are able to protect such cells in bone marrow, breast, colon, larynx and lung cancers. Here we present a number of studies investigating the role of glutathione in promoting cancer, impeding chemotherapy, and the use of glutathione modulation to enhance anti‐neoplastic therapy. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Keywords
This publication has 81 references indexed in Scilit:
- Expression of ?-glutamyl cysteine synthetase in nonsmall cell lung carcinomaCancer, 2001
- Concise review of the glutathione S-transferases and their significance to toxicologyToxicological Sciences, 1999
- The Inhibition of NF-B Activation Pathways and the Induction of Apoptosis by Dithiocarbamates in T Cells Are Blocked by the Glutathione Precursor N-Acetyl-L-CysteineBiological Chemistry, 1999
- Patients with genetic defects in the γ-glutamyl cycleChemico-Biological Interactions, 1998
- Potential for selective modulation of glutathione in cancer chemotherapyChemico-Biological Interactions, 1998
- Parallel assessment of glutathione-based detoxifying enzymes, O6-alkylguanine-dna alkyltransferase and P-glycoprotein as indicators of drug resistance in tumor and normal lung of patients with lung cancerInternational Journal of Cancer, 1994
- Kinetic studies of reactions involved in hydrogen transfer from glutathione to carbohydrate radicalsRadiation Physics and Chemistry (1977), 1984
- Direct evidence for inter-organ transport of glutathione and that the non-filtration renal mechanism for glutathione utilization involves γ-glutamyl transpeptidaseBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1980
- Glutathione peroxidase activity and selenium concentration in the hearts of doxorubicin-treated rabbitsJournal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 1978
- Glutathionuria: Inborn error of metabolism due to tissue deficiency of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidaseBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1975