Pharmacological modification of the redox properties of tumor cells is a promising approach to enhance the efficiency of antitumor therapy. The Nrf2 transcription factor is considered as a new target for the development of selective chemosensitizers. Nrf2 plays a key role in the regulation of cellular redox homeostasis against stress and during adaptation processes. Many natural and synthetic phenolic antioxidants are inducers of Nrf2 transcriptional activity. Because of differences in Nrf2 transcriptional activity between normal and tumor cells, phenolic antioxidants at certain concentrations act as biological regulators of the antioxidant activity, which has two different effects. They promote the development of oxidative stress and enhance the effect of antitumor drugs in tumor cells and exhibit protective properties in the normal cells. This review discusses possible molecular mechanisms of the action and the prospects for clinical use of natural and synthetic phenolic antioxidants in antitumor therapy.

药理学修饰肿瘤细胞的氧化还原特性是提高抗肿瘤治疗效率的一种有前途的方法。Nrf2转录因子被认为是选择性化学增敏剂开发的新目标。Nrf2在调节细胞氧化还原稳态对抗压力和适应过程中起关键作用。许多天然和合成的酚类抗氧化剂都是Nrf2转录活性的诱导剂。由于正常细胞和肿瘤细胞之间Nrf2转录活性的差异，某些浓度的酚类抗氧化剂充当抗氧化剂活性的生物调节剂，具有两种不同的作用。它们促进氧化应激的发展，并增强抗肿瘤药物在肿瘤细胞中的作用，并在正常细胞中表现出保护性。