| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;2. Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunogenetic Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Mazandaran, Iran;3. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Washington University, School of Medicine, Saint Louis, Missouri;4. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;5. Nanotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran |
| Abstract: | The hypoxic niche of tumor leads to a tremendous increase in the extracellular adenosine concentration through alteration of adenosine metabolism in the tumor microenvironment (TME). This consequently affects cancer progression, local immune responses, and apoptosis of tumor cells. Regulatory effect of adenosine on apoptosis in TME depends on the cancer cell type, pharmacological characteristics of adenosine receptor subtypes, and the adenosine concentration in the tumor niche. Exploiting specific pharmacological adenosine receptor agonist and antagonist inducing apoptosis in cancer cells can be considered as a proper procedure to control cancer progression. This review summarizes the regulatory role of adenosine in cancer cell apoptosis for a better understanding, and hence better management of the disease. |
