The Interplay Between Oxidant/Antioxidant System, Transcription Factors, and Non-Coding RNA in Lung Cancer

Abstract

The exposure to risk factors, such as cigarette smoke and air pollution (containing metabolic oxidants and toxic substances), leading to cellular and molecular alterations, promotes the development of lung cancer at multiple stages. The antioxidant defence system plays a critical role in counteracting the mechanisms of oxidative stress. In physiological conditions, the balance between pro-oxidant and antioxidant species is critically important for the correct performance of cellular functions. Its imbalance is accompanied by the onset and progression of various pathologic states, including lung cancer. Cell signalling pathways and non-coding RNAs play a crucial role in the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and in the development of resistance to conventional therapeutic treatments. The interplay between the oxidant/antioxidant system, transcription factors, and non-coding RNAs is involved in the development and in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. This review provides a comprehensive resource for researchers and clinicians to better understand this intricate system and its cellular interactions, with the aim of disseminating the knowledge of the mechanisms involved in both cancer development and the development of new anti-cancer therapeutic strategies. A thorough understanding of the interplay between oxidative stress mechanisms, the activity of transcription factors, and non-coding RNAs could improve the efficacy of drug treatments and open new pharmacological perspectives for the control of inflammation and disease progression in lung cancer.