Scientists at ETH Zurich have found high levels of hydrogen peroxide in pancreatic cancer cells. The research was published in the journal Angewandte Chemistry.
It is known that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the functioning of cells. They are normally controlled by the cell to prevent them from accumulating, but in cancer cells this control is impaired. Studying the role of ROS in oncology is difficult because these oxygen particles are extremely short-lived.
Studies usually assess the total level of ROS. A group of researchers from Zurich were able to separately measure the content of three types of ROS in pancreatic cancer cells: hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and hydroxyl radicals.
The scientists found that the hydrogen peroxide content in pancreatic cancer cells was significantly increased compared to other ROS molecules. In addition, the researchers found that mutations that promote pancreatic cancer lead to a decrease in the production of enzymes that break down hydrogen peroxide.
The results of the study may indicate that preferential accumulation of hydrogen peroxide is necessary for the survival of cancer cells. This makes the genes and molecules involved in its control promising targets for pancreatic cancer therapy.
Source: Gazeta
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