Harnessing reactive oxygen species for precision medicine: ROS-Activatable PROTACs for lung Cancer

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a crucial role in maintaining cellular balance by acting both as signaling messengers and as sources of oxidative damage. In cancer, their role is paradoxical: moderate ROS levels can promote tumor growth and survival, whereas excessive ROS accumulation can trigger cell death. In lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, dysregulated ROS levels contribute to DNA instability, abnormal activation of signaling pathways, and resistance to therapy. This review integrates current insights into the dual functions of ROS in cancer, examines therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating ROS in lung cancer, and emphasizes the potential of ROS-activatable PROTACs as next-generation treatments for these patients.