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Cote et al. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2022;8:36 Journal of Cancer
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2022.41
Metastasis and Treatment

Review Open Access

Reactive oxygen species in the progression and
treatment of malignant mesothelioma

1
1
Ava Cote , Terri Messier , Brian Cunniff 1,2
1
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Redox Biology Program, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine,
Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
2
University of Vermont Cancer Center, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
Correspondence to: Dr. Brian Cunniff, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont, 149 Beaumont
Avenue, Burlington, VT 05405, USA. E-mail: Brian.Cunniff@uvm.edu

How to cite this article: Cote A, Messier T, Cunniff B. Reactive oxygen species in the progression and treatment of malignant
mesothelioma. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2022;8:36. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2022.41

Received: 27 Apr 2022 First Decision: 11 Jul 2022 Revised: 26 Jul 2022 Accepted: 12 Aug 2022 Published: 31 Aug 2022
Academic Editor: Kamran Shaukat Copy Editor: Fangling Lan Production Editor: Fangling Lan

Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive cancer that affects the pleural and peritoneal mesothelial lining of
the lungs and abdomen. Survival rates for patients with MM remain extremely low and effective treatments are
limited. MM tumors harbor both genotypic and phenotypic features that indicate MM tumor cells are under
increased oxidative stress, similar to other aggressive cancers. This increased oxidative stress in MM cells supports
aggressive growth while providing a therapeutic vulnerability exploitable by redox-modulating compounds. MM
tumor cells also exhibit altered mitochondrial structure and function that contribute to the disease through
perturbations in metabolism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and metabolism. Targeting the altered
redox status in cancer through increasing cellular ROS levels directly or inhibiting cellular antioxidant pathways and
disrupting ROS scavenging mechanisms has become an exciting area for therapeutic intervention. This review
discusses ROS sources and signaling, mitochondrial structure and function and targeting mitochondria ROS as a
therapeutic approach for the treatment of MM.

Keywords: Malignant mesothelioma, targeting cellular redox status, pro-oxidant therapy

INTRODUCTIONS
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive form of cancer that primarily affects the pleural and

© The Author(s) 2022. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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