Skip to main content
. 2023 May 18;63:102754. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102754

Table 1.

Side effects of the representative pro-oxidants.

Drugs Clinical applications Major side effects ROS sources References
Anthracyclines (e.g., Doxorubicin, Epirubicin, Daunorubicin) Breast, bile ducts, prostate, uterus, ovary, esophagus, stomach, liver, childhood solid cancers, osteosarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas, Kaposi's sarcoma, acute myeloblastic and lymphoblastic leukemia and Wilms Cancer Neurologic disturbances, cumulative cardiotoxicity and bone marrow aplasia
  • (1)

    Impaired energetic substrate uses.

 [49,124]
  • (2)

    Topoisomerase IIB inhibition.

Platinum complexes (e.g., cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin) Testicular, ovarian, head and neck, bladder, lung, cervical cancer, melanoma, lymphomas. Cisplatin: nephrotoxicity Carboplatin: myelosuppression Oxaliplatin: neurotoxicity
  • (1)

    Antioxidant peptide GSH binding.

 [7,[125], [126]]
  • (2)

    Prevent DNA transcription and replication.

5-FU Colorectal, breast, gastric, pancreatic, prostate, and bladder cancers Cognitive disability cardiotoxicity
  • (1)

    The enzyme thymidylate synthase inhibition, DNA formation blockage.

 [127,128]
  • (2)

    Dysregulate mitochondrial phosphate metabolism.

Gemcitabine Colon, pancreatic, colon, ovarian, breast, head and neck and lung cancers Myelosuppression, thrombocytopenia, anemia, granulocytopenia and neutropenia
  • (1)

    Inhibit DNA synthesis, leading to apoptosis.

 [129]
Arsenic trioxide Acute promyelocytic leukemia Cardiotoxicity, Hepatotoxicity
  • (1)

    Interfere with mitochondrial function.

 [66,69]
  • (2)

    Increase intracellular Ca2+ levels.

Cyclophosphamide Leukemia, neuroblastoma, multiple myeloma, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, and organ transplant Hemorrhagic cystitis, bone marrow suppression, cardiotoxicity, gonadal toxicity, and carcinogenesis The metabolite, acrolein, increases lipid peroxidation. [130,131]
Trastuzumab HER2+ breast cancer Cardiotoxicity
  • (1)

    Modify the expression of regulatory genes of mitochondrial function.

 [132,133]
  • (2)

    DNA repair, leading to mitochondrial-induced apoptosis.

Paclitaxel Ovarian, breast, and prostate cancer Peripheral neuropathy Impair the axonal transport of mitochondria and morphology and function. [134]