The Use of Free Radicals in Cancer Therapy

Since cancer cells are rapidly growing and very metabolically active, they generate high levels of superoxide free radicals, and tend to be low in the antioxidant, superoxide dismutase. A promising line of research indicates that certain estrogen derivatives can selectively kill cancer cells by inhibiting superoxide dismutase. 5

A word of caution about antioxidant supplements

Although antioxidant supplements may be helpful in eliminating free radicals and in preventing cancer, they may be counterproductive for the patient who already has cancer. 6 Studies so far are inconsistent, but antioxidants may interfere with the cancer cell's natural mechanism of self-destruction, or with therapies that are based on the effects caused by free radicals.

References

1. Cancer Treatment Developments. Norman Swain of ABC interviewed Dr. Martin Brown, Professor of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University. The interview was broadcast on March 22, 1999.

2. Edelson, S., Free Radical Pathology: A Unified Cause of Chronic Illness The Edelson Center for Environmental & Preventive Medicine.

3. Free radicals and new drugs for cancer therapy. Scientific Yearbook 2001-02, pages 36-39. Cancer Research UK

4. Gray Laboratory Cancer Research Trust Report 2000, Molecular Mechanisms 5. Huang, P. and associates, Superoxide Dismutase as a Target for the Selective Killing of Cancer Cells. Nature, Volume 407, pages 390-395 (September 21, 2000)

6. Rey, C., Vitamins may thwart cancer-fighting efforts Posted on www.CNN.com,December 14, 1999

.7. Wang, H. and associates, Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase protects against singlet oxygen-induced cell damage of photodynamic therapy. Free Radic Biol Med Volume 30, Number 8: pages 825-35. (April 15, 2001) PubMed

8. What are free radicals? www.mindspring.com

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