Dexamethasone Sensitizes Cancer Stem Cells to Gemcitabine and 5-Fluorouracil by Increasing Reactive Oxygen Species Production through NRF2 Reduction.

ABSTRACT: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have high tumor-initiating capacity and are resistant to chemotherapeutic reagents; thus eliminating CSCs is essential to improving the prognosis. Recently, we reported that dexamethasone increases the effects of gemcitabine on pancreatic CSCs; however, the mechanism involved remains to be fully elucidated. In this study, we explored the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the dexamethasone-induced chemosensitization of CSCs. Dexamethasone increased the growth-inhibitory effects of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil, whereas N-acetyl-cysteine, a ROS scavenger, abolished this effect. Although dexamethasone alone did not increase ROS levels, dexamethasone promoted the increase in ROS levels induced by gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil. Dexamethasone treatment reduced t

SUBMITTER: Suzuki S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8470402 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature