Open AccessRole of nitric oxide and its metabolites as potential markers in lung cancer
Author(s) -
Fares A. Masri
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
annals of thoracic medicine (online)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.639
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1817-1737
pISSN - 1998-3557
DOI - 10.4103/1817-1737.65036
Subject(s) - nitric oxide , carcinogenesis , reactive oxygen species , oxidative stress , nitration , reactive nitrogen species , medicine , lung cancer , endogeny , pathogenesis , signal transduction , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , cancer , tumor promotion , extracellular , biochemistry , immunology , biology , chemistry , pathology , organic chemistry
Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) play important physiologic roles as mediators of signaling processes. However, high concentrations of NO and ROS result in damage to cellular and extracellular components. Excessive production of endogenous and/or exogenous ROS and NO is implicated in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. NO and its metabolites interact with ROS to generate potent nitrating agents leading to protein nitration, which is one of the several chemical modifications that occur during oxidative/nitrosative stress. Although there is considerable evidence in support of a role for NO in protein modifications and carcinogenesis, recent data suggest that NO has antagonistic cellular effects, leading to either promotion or inhibition of tumor growth. However, the role of NO in tumor biology is still poorly understood. This review demonstrates the role of NO and its metabolites as potential markers in lung cancer.