Author(s): Sasikala Chinnappan, Santhosh Venkatesan, Venkatalakshmi Ranganathan

Email(s): venkatalakshmi@crescent.education

DOI: 10.52711/0974-360X.2025.00494   

Address: Sasikala Chinnappan1, Santhosh Venkatesan2, Venkatalakshmi Ranganathan2*
1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia-56000.
2Department of Pharmaceutics, Crescent School of Pharmacy, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai-600048, India.
*Corresponding Author

Published In:   Volume - 18,      Issue - 7,     Year - 2025


ABSTRACT:
Cancer remains a formidable global health challenge, demanding innovative approaches to improve treatment efficacy and reduce side effects. Cancer, a complex and relentless group of diseases, continues to pose a profound global health challenge. Despite significant advancements in our understanding of its molecular underpinnings and the development of various therapeutic modalities, the quest for effective and less toxic cancer treatments remains a high priority. One promising avenue that has gained increasing attention in recent years is the therapeutic targeting of free radicals. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals have long been associated with cancer development and progression, offering a unique avenue for therapeutic intervention. This article explores the role of ROS in cancer biology, from the use of antioxidants as adjuvants in conventional treatment to radiation therapy and chemotherapy strategies that exploit redox vulnerabilities. Additionally, we examine the clinical application of radiation therapy, its efficacy in different cancer types and potential strategies to enhance its selective targeting of cancer cell. We explore the design principles of nanoparticle based therapies, the identification of target gene and the potential for combined therapies that synergize with existing treatment. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the current strategies and future directions in therapeutic targeting of free radicals in cancer.


Cite this article:
Sasikala Chinnappan, Santhosh Venkatesan, Venkatalakshmi Ranganathan. A Review on Therapeutic Targeting of Free Radicals in Cancer: Current Strategies and Future Directions. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2025;18(7):3428-5. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2025.00494

Cite(Electronic):
Sasikala Chinnappan, Santhosh Venkatesan, Venkatalakshmi Ranganathan. A Review on Therapeutic Targeting of Free Radicals in Cancer: Current Strategies and Future Directions. Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2025;18(7):3428-5. doi: 10.52711/0974-360X.2025.00494   Available on: https://rjptonline.org/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2025-18-7-74


10. REFERENCES:
1.    E. Vignesh Balaji, A. Tamil Selvan. Cancer-A Historical Status, Government Regulation and Current Scenario of Socio-Economic Impact – Retrospective Study. Asian J. Pharm. Res. 2018; 8(3): 133-135 https://doi.org/10.5958/2231-5691.2018.00023.0
2.    Akshay R. Yadav, Shrinivas K. Mohite. Cancer- A Silent Killer: An Overview. Asian J. Pharm. Res. 2020; 10(3): 213-216. https://doi.org/10.5958/2231-5691.2020.00036.2
3.    Kundan J. Tiwari, Komal Jadhav. Cancer is a Life-Threatening Disease: A Review. Res. J. Pharma. Dosage Forms and Tech. 2020; 12(2): 111-114. https://doi.org/10.5958/0975-4377.2020.00020.8
4.    Dreher D, Junod AF. Role of oxygen free radicals in cancer development. European Journal of cancer. 1996; Jan 1; 32(1): 30-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/0959-8049(95)00531-5
5.    Martemucci G, Costagliola C, Mariano M, D’andrea L, Napolitano P, D’Alessandro AG. Free radical properties, source and targets, antioxidant consumption and health. Oxygen. 2022; Apr 12; 2(2): 48-78.  https://doi.org/10.3390/oxygen2020006 
6.    Ramos P, Bentires-Alj M. Mechanism-based cancer therapy: resistance to therapy, therapy for resistance. Oncogene. 2015; Jul; 34(28): 3617-26. https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2014.314
7.    Iqbal MJ, Kabeer A, Abbas Z, Siddiqui HA, Calina D, Sharifi-Rad J, Cho WC. Interplay of oxidative stress, cellular communication and signaling pathways in cancer. Cell Communication and Signaling. 2024; Jan 2; 22(1): 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-023-01398-5 
8.    Jelic MD, Mandic AD, Maricic SM, Srdjenovic BU. Oxidative stress and its role in cancer. Journal of cancer research and therapeutics. 2021; Jan 1; 17(1): 22-8.  https://doi.org/10.4103/jcrt.jcrt_862_16 
9.    Poprac P, Jomova K, Simunkova M, Kollar V, Rhodes CJ, Valko M. Targeting free radicals in oxidative stress-related human diseases. Trends in pharmacological sciences. 2017; Jul 1; 38(7): 592-607. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2017.04.005
10.    Huang R, Chen H, Liang J, Li Y, Yang J, Luo C, Tang Y, Ding Y, Liu X, Yuan Q, Yu H. Dual Role of Reactive Oxygen Species and their Application in Cancer Therapy. Journal of Cancer. 2021; Jul 25; 12(18): 5543-61.https://doi.org/10.7150/jca.54699
11.    Hatta MN, Mohamad Hanif EA, Chin SF, Neoh HM. Pathogens and carcinogenesis: a review. Biology. 2021; Jun 15; 10(6): 533.  https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10060533
12.    Clemens MR. Free radicals in chemical carcinogenesis. Klinische Wochenschrift. 1991; Dec; 69: 1123-34. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01645172
13.    Cockfield JA, Schafer ZT. Antioxidant defenses: A context-specific vulnerability of cancer cells. Cancers. 2019; Aug 20; 11(8): 1208.  https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers11081208 
14.    Vučetić M, Cormerais Y, Parks SK, Pouysségur J. The central role of amino acids in cancer redox homeostasis: vulnerability points of the cancer redox code. Frontiers in oncology. 2017; Dec 21;7:319. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2017.00319 
15.    Glasauer A, Chandel NS. Targeting antioxidants for cancer therapy. Biochemical pharmacology. 2014; Nov 1; 92(1): 90-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2014.07.017 
16.    Fuchs-Tarlovsky V. Role of antioxidants in cancer therapy. Nutrition. 2013; Jan 1; 29(1): 15-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2012.02.014 
17.    Ganesh G. Dhakad, Gayatri D. Patil, Ashwini C. Nikum, Sangita P. Shirsat. Review on Radiation Therapy on Cancer. Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 2022; 14(1): 4-2.  https://doi.org/10.52711/2321-5836.2022.00002 
18.    Aggarwal V, Tuli HS, Varol A, Thakral F, Yerer MB, Sak K, Varol M, Jain A, Khan MA, Sethi G. Role of reactive oxygen species in cancer progression: molecular mechanisms and recent advancements. Biomolecules. 2019; Nov 13; 9(11): 735. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9110735
19.    Kim SJ, Kim HS, Seo YR. Understanding of ROS‐inducing strategy in anticancer therapy. Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity. 2019; 2019(1): 5381692. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5381692
20.    Lewandowska A, Rudzki  B, Brudniak J. Quality of life of cancer patients treated with chemotherapy. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2020; Oct; 17(19): 6938. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17196938 
21.    Arya B, Krishnaveni K, Sambathkumar R. Review on Antioxidant Supplements use in Cancer Chemotherapy. Res. J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 2020; 12(1): 21-24. https://doi.org/10.5958/2321-5836.2020.00005.1 
22.    Montero AJ, Jassem J. Cellular redox pathways as a therapeutic target in the treatment of cancer. Drugs. 2011; Jul; 71: 1385-96. https://doi.org/10.2165/11592590-000000000-00000
23.    Jalil AT, Abdulhadi MA, Al-Ameer LR, Washeel OF, Abdulameer SJ, Merza M, Abosaooda M, Mahdi AA. Free radical based nano cancer therapy. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. 2023; Aug 4: 104803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jddst.2023.104803 
24.    Mohd. Yaqub Khan, Brijesh Kumar Saroj, Maryada Roy, Irfan Aziz. A Review- Emerging Use of Nano-Based Carriers in Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer-Novel Approaches. Asian J. Pharm. Tech. 2015; Vol. 5: Issue 1, Pg 38-49. https://doi.org/10.5958/2231-5713.2015.00008.2
25.    Yahya EB, Alqadhi AM. Recent trends in cancer therapy: A review on the current state of gene delivery. Life Sciences. 2021; Mar 15; 269: 119087.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119087
26.    Ganesh G. Dhakad, Sangita P. Shirsat, Kaveri P. Tmabe, Neha R. Jaiswal. Review on Gene Therapy on Cancer. Research Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 2022; 14(1): 37-2.  https://doi.org/10.52711/2321-5836.2022.00006 
27.    Van Loenhout J, Peeters M, Bogaerts A, Smits E, Deben C. Oxidative stress-inducing anticancer therapies: taking a closer look at their immunomodulating effects. Antioxidants. 2020 Nov 27; 9(12): 1188.https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9121188 
28.    Alok Kumar, Kanchan Singh, Kartik Kumar, Sachin Kumar, Arjun Singh. Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment: Harnessing the Power of the Immune System. Research Journal of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Technology. 2024; 16(1): 107-2. https://doi.org/10.52711/0975-4377.2024.00017
29.    Ch. Prudhvi Raju, G. Raveendra Babu, M. Sowjanya, M. Ramayyappa. Evaluation of Cancer Bio-markers through Hyphenated Analytical Techniques. Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis. 2021; 11(3): 235-2. https://doi.org/10.52711/2231-5675.2021.00041 
30.    Khan H, Shah MR, Barek J, Malik MI. Cancer biomarkers and their biosensors: A comprehensive review. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry. 2023; Jan 1; 158: 116813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2022.116813 
31.    Duffy MJ, Crown J. A personalized approach to cancer treatment: how biomarkers can help. Clinical chemistry. 2008; Nov 1; 54(11): 1770-9.  https://doi.org/10.1373/clinchem.2008.110056
32.    Wistuba II, Gelovani JG, Jacoby JJ, Davis SE, Herbst RS. Methodological and practical challenges for personalized cancer therapies. Nature reviews Clinical oncology. 2011; Mar; 8(3): 135-41. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2011.2
33.    Pucci C, Martinelli C, Ciofani G. Innovative approaches for cancer treatment: Current perspectives and new challenges. Ecancermedicalscience. 2019; 13. https://doi.org/10.3332%2Fecancer.2019.961 
34.    Zou Z, Chang H, Li H, Wang S. Induction of reactive oxygen species: an emerging approach for cancer therapy. Apoptosis. 2017; Nov; 22: 1321-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10495-017-1424-9
35.    Greenwald P. Clinical trials in cancer prevention: current results and perspectives for the future. The Journal of nutrition. 2004; Dec 1; 134(12): 3507S-12S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.12.3507S 
36.    Cheng Y, He C, Wang M, Ma X, Mo F, Yang S, Han J, Wei X. Targeting epigenetic regulators for cancer therapy: mechanisms and advances in clinical trials. Signal transduction and targeted therapy. 2019; Dec 17; 4(1): 62. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-019-0095-0 
37.    C Azoury S, M Straughan D, Shukla V. Immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer therapy: clinical efficacy and safety. Current cancer drug targets. 2015; Jul 1; 15(6): 452-62. https://doi.org/10.2174/156800961506150805145120  
38.    Kanti Sahu, Rishita Pathak, Naveen Agrawal, Pinkesh Banjare, Harish Sharma, Gyanesh Sahu. A Review of the Novel Drug Delivery System used in the Treatment of Cancer. Res. J. Pharma. Dosage Forms and Tech. 2019; 11(3): 199-205. https://doi.org/10.5958/0975-4377.2019.00035.1
39.    Alok Kumar, Kanchan Singh, Kartik Kumar, Arjun Singh, Alpesh Tripathi, Lakshya Tiwari. Drug Resistance in Cancer Therapy: Mechanisms, Challenges and Strategies. Asian Journal of Nursing Education and Research. 2024; 14(1): 95-0. https://doi.org/10.52711/2349-2996.2024.00019 
40.    Amy Elizabeth Jaibu, R. Shanmuga Sundaram, Krishnaveni. K, Sambathkumar R. Targeted Cancer Therapy: Promises and Reality. Research J. Pharm. and Tech. 2018; 11(4): 1407-1412.  https://doi.org/10.5958/0974-360X.2018.00263.9 








Recomonded Articles:

Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology (RJPT) is an international, peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal.... Read more >>>

RNI: CHHENG00387/33/1/2008-TC                     
DOI: 10.5958/0974-360X 

1.3
2021CiteScore
 
56th percentile
Powered by  Scopus


SCImago Journal & Country Rank

Journal Policies & Information


Recent Articles




Tags


Not Available