Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42341373›Full record

ReviewRedox biology2026

Ascorbate-driven quinone redox cycling as a pro-oxidant anticancer strategy.

Christophe Glorieux, Cinthya Enriquez-Lara, Jaime A Valderrama, Julio Benites, Pedro Buc Calderon

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Redox biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Christophe GlorieuxLaboratory of Clinical and Molecular Gastroenterology, Institute for Digestive Research, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Cinthya Enriquez-LaraPrograma de Doctorado en Química Medicinal (DOQUIMED), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile.
Jaime A ValderramaQuímica y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile.
Julio BenitesQuímica y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile.
Pedro Buc CalderonQuímica y Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique, Chile; Research Group in Metabolism and Nutrition, Louvain Drug Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: pedro.buccalderon@uclouvain.be.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Quinones are natural compounds widely distributed in animals, plants, and microorganisms, where they play essential roles in cellular energy metabolism. Ascorbate (vitamin C) can exert antioxidant or pro-oxidant effects depending on concentration and cellular context. Studies have shown that quinones can undergo redox cycling, leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a process that is further enhanced in the presence of ascorbate. Due to the elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and compromised antioxidant defenses in cancer cells, redox imbalance has been proposed as a potential "Achilles' heel" of tumors. In this context, the combination of ascorbate and quinones represents a promising strategy for selectively targeting cancer cells through enhanced ROS generation. This review discusses the mechanisms and biological effects of natural and synthetic quinoid compounds, particularly their interactions with ascorbate in cancer cells.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsAscorbic AcidNeoplasmsOxidantsQuinonesReactive Oxygen SpeciesAnimalsAntioxidantsHumansOxidation-ReductionAntineoplastic AgentsAntioxidantsAscorbic AcidOxidantsQuinonesReactive Oxygen SpeciesAscorbateCancerQuinonesRedox cyclingROSVitamin C

Identifiers

PMID42341373
PMCPMC13320442

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.