Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS): Key Components in Cancer Immunotherapy

The class of highly bioactive chemicals known as reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been extensively explored in relation to several malignancies and is thought to be a typical by-product of many cellular functions. Cancer cells have greater baseline ROS concentrations than healthy cells because of an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants. At low to moderate levels, ROS functions as a signal transducer to drive cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. ROS also has a second role in cellular metabolism. On the other hand, excessive ROS may kill cells by harming organelles, membranes, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Numerous studies have shown that anticancer treatments that regulate ROS levels, such as immunotherapy, provide encouraging outcomes both in vitro and in vivo.