Thioredoxin reductase and its inhibitors for cancer therapy

Thioredoxin reductase(TrxR) is an important component of thiol regulating system and contains a reactive and solvent accessible selenocysteine residue which is located on a flexible C-terminal arm of the protein and can combine various substrates and inhibitors. Many tumor cells have elevated TrxR levels and TrxR has also been shown to play a major role in drug resistance. A great number of effective natural and synthetic TrxR inhibitors are now availably possessing antitumor potential through induction of oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Inhibitors of TrxR may thus contribute to a successfully single, combinatory or adjuvant cancer therapy. Key words: Thioredoxin reductase 1;  Enzyme inhibitors;  Neoplasms;  Apoptosis