Pilot study demonstrating metabolic and anti-proliferative effects of in vivo anti-oxidant supplementation with N-Acetylcysteine in Breast Cancer

High oxidative stress as defined by hydroxyl and peroxyl activity is often found in the stroma of human breast cancers. Oxidative stress induces stromal catabolism, which promotes cancer aggressiveness. Stromal cells exposed to oxidative stress release catabolites such as lactate, which are up-taken by cancer cells to support mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The transfer of catabolites between stromal and cancer cells leads to metabolic heterogeneity between these cells and increased cancer cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis in preclinical models.

Source: Seminars in Oncology - October 10, 2017 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Daniel Monti, Federica Sotgia, Diana Whitaker Menezes, Madalina Tuluc, Ruth Birbe, Adam Berger, Melissa Lazar, Paolo Cotzia, Rossitza Draganova-Tacheva, Zhao Lin, Marina Domingo-Vidal, Andrew Newberg, Michael P. Lisanti, Ubaldo Martinez-Outschoorn Source Type: research