The potential role of hydrogen sulfide in cancer cell apoptosis

Abstract For a long time, hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) has been considered a toxic compound, but recent studies have found that H 2 S is the third gaseous signaling molecule which plays a vital role in physiological and pathological conditions. Currently, a large number of studies have shown that H 2 S mediates apoptosis through multiple signaling pathways to participate in cancer occurrence and development, for example, PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK signaling pathways. Therefore, the regulation of the production and metabolism of H 2 S to mediate the apoptotic process of cancer cells may improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment. In this review, the role and mechanism of H 2 S in cancer cell apoptosis in mammals are summarized.