| Although chemotherapy succeeds in reducing tumor burden, the efficacy is limited
due to acquired drug resistance and often irreparable side effects. Studies show
that antioxidants may influence the response to chemotherapy and its side effects,
although their use remains controversial. The evidence shows that some chemodrugs induce oxidative stress and lead to normal tissue apoptosis and the entry of
cancer cells to a dormant G0 state. Through the suppression of oxidative stress,
antioxidants could protect normal cells and bring the tumor out of dormancy so as
to expose it to chemotherapies. This review is focused on the redox biology of cancer/normal cells and association of reactive oxygen species with drug resistance,
cancer dormancy, and side effects. To this end, evidence from cellular, animal, and
clinical studies is provided to better understand the conundrum of dietary antioxidants in cancer chemotherapy. |