TY - JOUR T1 - Targeting Production of Reactive Oxygen Species as an Anticancer Strategy JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 5881 LP - 5902 DO - 10.21873/anticanres.15408 VL - 41 IS - 12 AU - GRIGORIA-KALLIOPI MARIOLI-SAPSAKOU AU - MALAMATI KOURTI Y1 - 2021/12/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/41/12/5881.abstract N2 - Cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. Research is currently focused on finding novel anticancer therapies and elucidating their mechanisms of action. Cellular redox balance is a promising target for new therapies, as cancer cells already have elevated levels of oxidizing agents due to hypermetabolism and genetic instability. Although free radicals are actively involved in vital cellular signaling pathways, they have also been implicated in certain diseases, including cancer. The aim of this review was to highlight the involvement of oxidative stress in the mechanism of action of anticancer agents. The difference in cellular redox balance between normal and cancer cells is discussed as a potential anticancer target, along with various examples of approved or experimental drugs that may alter the redox state. These drugs are presented in relation to their pro-oxidant or antioxidant mechanisms, with the consequent goal of underscoring the importance of such mechanisms in the overall efficacy of anticancer drugs. ER -