Description

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common form of carcinoma and a primary cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Oxidative stress represents as an important factor in carcinogenesis and may play a role in initiation and progression of tumors. Oxidative stress–induced NO• damage to DNA includes a multitude of lesions, many of which are mutagenic and have multiple roles in cancer and aging. It is caused by an unfavorable balance between reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) and antioxidant defenses. ROS/RNS are generated during normal cellular metabolism, as a result of the influence of various environmental factors, as well as during pathological processes. Nitric oxide (NO•) is a ubiquitous, short-lived free radical produced from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthases (NOSs), and isoforms of NOS exist, depending on the site of origin: endothelial (eNOS), neuronal (nNOS), mitochondrial (mtNOS), and inducible (iNOS). eNOS is responsible for the endothelial synthesis of NO• and has shown to modulate cancer-related events such as inflammation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell cycle, invasion, and metastasis. Genetic studies also showed that eNOS gene polymorphisms are associated with the development of breast cancer. Therefore, selective targeting of eNOS may prove a potential strategy for prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

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