Antioxidant Promotes Survival of Cells Leading to Lymphatic Tumor Recurrence
A new study has revealed that one of the most abundant antioxidants in cells, glutathione, surprisingly promotes the survival of cells that initiate lymphatic tumors.
Researchers from the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center (CBM) in Spain discovered that this antioxidant is responsible for the recurrence of lymphatic tumors, even after conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The study identified a significant increase in glutathione levels in tumor initiating cells (CITs), a small population of cells within tumors that are resistant to treatment and contribute to recurrence. This resistance is attributed to the antioxidant properties of glutathione, which protects cells from cellular stress.
The researchers suggest that targeting glutathione production could be a potential strategy for treating lymphatic tumors. In fact, treatment with antioxidant substances enhanced the survival and growth of both CITs and other tumor cells, challenging the conventional belief that antioxidants are beneficial for health.
The study also revealed a sex-dependent effect of glutathione on lymphomagenesis. In women, a drug that inhibits glutathione production effectively prevented tumor growth, while the same treatment had no effect on men. This suggests that the drug may be particularly useful for treating lymphatic tumors in women.
The researchers believe that their findings could lead to the development of more effective treatments for tumors affecting the nervous system. Their work is published in the academic journal Blood Death & Disease.