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The Use of Free Radicals in Cancer Therapy

© David Olle

What are free radicals? 2 8

Understanding free radicals falls in the realm of atoms and molecules. When atoms combine to make molecules, a covalent bond is formed, which involves the sharing of a pair of electrons. Electrons in pairs is the most stable state, and is related to their presence in orbitals, the region of space around the nucleus of the atom in which they are found. When molecular bonds are broken in normal chemical reactions, the electron pairs are transferred to one or the other resultant species. This results in the formation of charged species called ions. If the bond breaking occurs under highly energetic conditions, such as exposure to radiation, the electrons can be split up, with one electron going to each resultant species. These species are known as free radicals, characterized by unpaired electrons. Oxygen is usually involved in free radical formation, and oxygen is usually present in the resultant free radicals. Since free radicals are very unstable, they react rapidly with normal molecules in order to extract an electron from them, and achieve a more stable state. This process, however, results in the formation of a vast number of new free radicals through a chain reaction. The process only stops when two free radicals react with each other.

Free radicals are very harmful to the body 8

The generation of free radicals is the natural result of metabolic processes in the body, particularly respiration and the immune system response to infection. The environment is also a contributing factor with the foods we eat, exposure to pollutants, and the metabolism of drugs and medicines we take. Free radicals wreak havoc on many body structures, including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, lipoproteins, and connective tissue macromolecules. Free radicals have been implicated as a major factor in aging, as well as a large host of diseases, including cancer.

The body counteracts the effects of free radicals by the use of antioxidants. Antioxidants act by donating an electron to the free radical, thereby stabilizing the molecule. Several enzymes in the body act as antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Several nutrients in the diet also have antioxidant activity, including Vitamin C, Vitamin E, beta-carotene, and selenium.

The use of free radicals in cancer therapy

The destructive nature of free radicals can be enlisted to destroy cancer cells. As in other types of therapy, it is essential that the free radicals be focused in the cancer cells, so as to do little harm to normal cells. The following are examples of current research directions.

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