Cisplatin / NRF2 Cancer Research Results

Cisplatin, Cisplatin: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:
Cisplatin is a chemotherapy medication used to treat various types of cancer. It is a platinum-based drug that works by interfering with the DNA of cancer cells, preventing them from reproducing and ultimately leading to cell death.
Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II; CDDP) is a platinum-based chemotherapeutic agent that forms covalent DNA crosslinks, primarily intrastrand adducts at adjacent guanine bases. These distort DNA structure, block replication and transcription, and activate DNA damage response pathways (ATM/ATR → p53), leading to cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Secondary mechanisms include ROS generation, stress MAPK activation, and modulation of NF-κB. Clinical resistance frequently involves enhanced DNA repair (ERCC1/NER), altered drug transport (CTR1, ATP7A/B), and increased antioxidant defenses. Major toxicities include nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, and peripheral neuropathy.

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer / Tumor Context Normal Tissue Context TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 DNA crosslink formation (intrastrand adducts) DNA adducts ↑; replication block ↑ Normal dividing cells also affected P, R, G Direct DNA cytotoxicity Cisplatin forms covalent intrastrand crosslinks (primarily at adjacent guanines), distorting DNA and blocking replication and transcription.
2 DNA damage response (ATM / ATR → p53) Checkpoint activation ↑; p53 signaling ↑ ↔ (toxicity in proliferating tissues) R, G Damage signaling cascade DNA distortion activates ATM/ATR pathways leading to p53-mediated cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis.
3 Intrinsic apoptosis (mitochondrial pathway) Bax ↑; Bcl-2 ↓; caspase-9/3 ↑ Nephrotoxicity & ototoxicity risk G Execution of cell death Persistent DNA damage triggers mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization and caspase activation.
4 Cell-cycle arrest (G2/M emphasis) G2/M arrest ↑ G Cytostasis → apoptosis Cells accumulate in G2/M phase due to unrepaired DNA lesions.
5 ROS generation / oxidative stress ROS ↑ (secondary mechanism) Oxidative injury ↑ (kidney, cochlea) R, G Stress amplification Cisplatin increases mitochondrial ROS and oxidative stress, contributing to cytotoxicity and organ toxicity.
6 MAPK signaling (JNK / p38 activation) Stress MAPK activation ↑ R, G Stress-response signaling JNK and p38 activation contribute to apoptosis and stress signaling.
7 NF-κB activation (resistance axis) NF-κB ↑ may promote survival R, G Resistance modulation NF-κB activation can reduce sensitivity; inhibition enhances cytotoxicity in some models.
8 DNA repair pathways (NER / ERCC1) NER ↑ → resistance G Resistance determinant Nucleotide excision repair (ERCC1) removes platinum adducts; high ERCC1 correlates with resistance.
9 Drug transport (CTR1 uptake; ATP7A/B efflux) CTR1 ↓ or ATP7A/B ↑ → resistance G Exposure constraint Copper transporters influence intracellular cisplatin accumulation and resistance.
10 Clinical toxicity profile Nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, neurotoxicity Translation constraint Major dose-limiting toxicities arise from DNA damage and oxidative stress in normal tissues.

Time-Scale Flag (TSF): P / R / G

  • P: 0–30 min (DNA aquation and initial adduct formation)
  • R: 30 min–3 hr (checkpoint activation / stress signaling)
  • G: >3 hr (apoptosis, phenotype outcomes, resistance development)


NRF2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2: Click to Expand ⟱
Source: TCGA
Type: Antiapoptotic
Nrf2 is responsible for regulating an extensive panel of antioxidant enzymes involved in the detoxification and elimination of oxidative stress. Thought of as "Master Regulator" of antioxidant response.
-One way to estimate Nrf2 induction is through the expression of NQO1.
NQO1, the most potent inducer:
SFN 0.2 μM,
quercetin (2.5 μM),
curcumin (2.7 μM),
Silymarin (3.6 μM),
tamoxifen (5.9 μM),
genistein (6.2 μM ),
beta-carotene (7.2μM),
lutein (17 μM),
resveratrol (21 μM),
indol-3-carbinol (50 μM),
chlorophyll (250 μM),
alpha-cryptoxanthin (1.8 mM),
and zeaxanthin (2.2 mM)

1. Raising Nrf2 enhances the cell's antioxidant defenses and ↓ROS. This strategy is used to decrease chemo-radio side effects.
2. Downregulating Nrf2 lowers antioxidant defenses and ↑ROS. In cancer cells this leads to DNA damage, and cell death.
3. However there are some cases where increasing Nrf2 paradoxically causes an increase in ROS (cancer cells). Such as cases of Mitochondial overload, signal crosstalk, reductive stress

-In some cases, Nrf2 is overexpressed in cancer cells, which can lead to the activation of genes involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This can contribute to the development of resistance to chemotherapy and targeted therapies.
-Increased Nrf2 expression: Lung, Breast, Colorectal, Prostrate.
Decreased Nrf2 expression: Skine, Liver, Pancreatic.
-Nrf2 is a cytoprotective transcription factor which demonstrated both a negative effect as well as a positive effect on cancer
- "promotes Nrf2 translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus," means facilitates the movement of Nrf2 into the nucleus, thereby enhancing the cell's antioxidant and cytoprotective responses. -Major regulator of Nrf2 activity in cells is the cytosolic inhibitor Keap1.

Nrf2 Inhibitors and Activators
Nrf2 Inhibitors: Brusatol, Luteolin, Trigonelline, VitC, Retinoic acid, Chrysin
Nrf2 Activators: SFN, OPZ EGCG, Resveratrol, DATS, CUR, CDDO, Api
- potent Nrf2 inducers from plants include sulforaphane, curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, wasabi, cafestol and kahweol (coffee), cinnamon, ginger, garlic, lycopene, rosemany

Nrf2 plays dual roles in that it can protect normal tissues against oxidative damage and can act as an oncogenic protein in tumor tissue.
– In healthy tissues, NRF2 activation helps protect cells from oxidative damage and maintains cellular homeostasis.
– In many cancers, constitutive activation of NRF2 (often through mutations in NRF2 itself or loss-of-function mutations in KEAP1) leads to an enhanced antioxidant capacity.
– This upregulation can promote tumor cell survival by enabling cancer cells to thrive under oxidative stress, resist chemotherapeutic agents, and sustain metabolic reprogramming.
– Elevated NRF2 levels have been implicated in promoting tumor growth, metastasis, and resistance to therapy in various malignancies.
– High or sustained NRF2 activity is frequently associated with aggressive tumor phenotypes, poorer prognosis, and decreased overall survival in several cancer types.
– While its activation is essential for protecting normal cells from oxidative stress, aberrant or sustained NRF2 activation in tumor cells can lead to enhanced survival, therapeutic resistance, and tumor progression.

NRF2 inhibitors: (to decrease antioxidant defenses and increase cell death from ROS).
-Brusatol: most cited natural inhibitors of Nrf2.
-Luteolin: luteolin can reduce Nrf2 activity in specific cancer models and may enhance cell sensitivity to chemotherapy. However, luteolin is also known as an antioxidant, and its influence on Nrf2 can sometimes be context dependent.
-Apigenin: certain studies to down‑regulate Nrf2 in cancer cells: Dose and context dependent .
-Oridonin:
-Wogonin: although its effects might be cell‑ and dose‑specific.
- Withaferin A

Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
1235- ALA,  Cisplatin,    α-Lipoic acid prevents against cisplatin cytotoxicity via activation of the NRF2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway
- in-vitro, Nor, HEI-OC1 - ex-vivo, NA, NA
ROS↑, HO-1↓, *toxicity↓, chemoP↑, *ROS↓, *HO-1↑, *SOD1↑, *NRF2↑,
2133- TQ,  CUR,  Cisplatin,    Thymoquinone and curcumin combination protects cisplatin-induced kidney injury, nephrotoxicity by attenuating NFκB, KIM-1 and ameliorating Nrf2/HO-1 signalling
- in-vitro, Nor, HEK293 - in-vivo, NA, NA
*creat↓, *TNF-α↓, *IL6↓, *MRP↓, *GFR↑, *mt-ATPase↑, *p‑Akt↑, *NRF2↑, *HO-1↑, *Casp3↓, *NF-kB↓, *RenoP↑,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 2 of 2

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 2

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

HO-1↓, 1,   ROS↑, 1,  

Functional Outcomes

chemoP↑, 1,  
Total Targets: 3

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress

HO-1↑, 2,   NRF2↑, 2,   ROS↓, 1,   SOD1↑, 1,  

Cell Death

p‑Akt↑, 1,   Casp3↓, 1,  

Migration

mt-ATPase↑, 1,  

Barriers & Transport

MRP↓, 1,  

Immune & Inflammatory Signaling

IL6↓, 1,   NF-kB↓, 1,   TNF-α↓, 1,  

Clinical Biomarkers

creat↓, 1,   IL6↓, 1,  

Functional Outcomes

GFR↑, 1,   RenoP↑, 1,   toxicity↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 16

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: NRF2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells
Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:197  Target#:226  State#:%  Dir#:2
wNotes=0 sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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