Features of aminothiol metabolism and progression of breast cancer

Background. Imbalance of aminothiol metabolism is a potential risk factor for malignant transformation of cells and caner development, including breast cancer, which is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. The purpose of the study was to summarize the available data on the characteristics of thiol metabolism as one of the factors contributing to the progression of breast cancer. Material and Methods. Data were searched from 1999 to 2022 using the Web of Science, Scopus, MedLine, The Cochrane Library, PubMed databases, which made it possible to assess the role of thiol-dependent metabolic disturbances in the regulation of tissue redox balance in breast cancer genesis. Results. The review considers the results of both our own data and international studies on breast cancer, which suggest that an imbalance of thiol compounds necessary to maintain a moderately reducing cellular environment that counteracts oxidative stress during cellular metabolism and detoxification under conditions of tumor progression can provoke reprogramming of the leading links of antiblastoma resistance, contributing to cancer progression. Conclusion. A more detailed study of the mechanisms of aminothiol metabolism in breast cancer emphasizes their particular importance for stabilizing the cellular genome and providing antitoxic protection of the cell, as well as understanding the important role of thiols as a coordination center in redox signaling. Disturbances at any stage of thiol metabolism can play an etiological role in oncogenetic pathologies, while the role of thiols as signaling molecules and the regulation of their metabolism should not be generalized for the entire group of diseases. Determination of serum markers of the redox state in patients with breast cancer, especially during antitumor therapy, can serve for an objective assessment of the effectiveness of treatment and the adaptive capabilities of the body, as well as predicting tumor growth and optimizing the program for screening and preventing cancer.