What is the Role of Hypoxia in Therapy Resistance?
One of the significant challenges in treating cancer is the development of resistance to therapies. Hypoxia is known to contribute to this resistance in several ways. It can create a hostile environment for therapies that rely on oxygen, such as radiation therapy, which requires oxygen to generate reactive oxygen species that damage cancer cells. Moreover, hypoxia can activate pathways that lead to drug resistance, such as the efflux of drugs from cancer cells or alterations in cell cycle dynamics, reducing the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
