Nitric oxide signaling in human ovarian cancer: A potential therapeutic target

Nitric Oxide. 2016 Apr 1:54:30-7. doi: 10.1016/j.niox.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 Feb 15.

Abstract

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death due to gynecologic malignancies worldwide. Current therapy regimens are ineffective to treat advanced ovarian cancers, presenting a need to develop novel therapeutic strategies. Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional gaseous molecule that is generated by cancer, stromal and endothelial cells and plays a multifaceted role in cancer biology through multiple mechanisms. Accumulating evidence suggests that NO signaling is involved in multiple aspects of ovarian cancer, including growth, apoptosis, cancer-stromal cell interaction, angiogenesis and response to chemotherapy. This review will discuss the experimental and clinical evidence of the involvement of NO signaling in ovarian cancer and the therapeutic potential of targeting NO signaling in ovarian cancer.

Keywords: Diagnostic marker; Nitric oxide; Ovarian cancer; Therapeutic target; iNOS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis
  • Azo Compounds / pharmacology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Donors / pharmacology
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase / metabolism
  • para-Aminobenzoates / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Azo Compounds
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Nitric Oxide Donors
  • O(2)-(2,4-dinitro-5-(N-methyl-N-4-carboxyphenylamino)phenyl 1-N,N-dimethylamino)diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate
  • para-Aminobenzoates
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase