Anabolism

Enzyme

Oxidative stress

Oxidase test

Reactive oxygen species

Biology

Cancer

Chemistry

Metabolic pathway

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

NADPH oxidase

Cell biology

Genetics

Biochemistry

Homeostasis

Cancer cell

Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) is an essential electron donor in all organisms, and provides the reducing power for anabolic reactions and redox balance. NADPH homeostasis is regulated by varied signaling pathways and several metabolic enzymes that undergo adaptive alteration in cancer cells. The metabolic reprogramming of NADPH renders cancer cells both highly dependent on this metabolic network for antioxidant capacity and more susceptible to oxidative stress. Modulating the unique NADPH homeostasis of cancer cells might be an effective strategy to eliminate these cells. In this review, we summarize the current existing literatures on NADPH homeostasis, including its biological functions, regulatory mechanisms and the corresponding therapeutic interventions in human cancers, providing insights into therapeutic implications of targeting NADPH metabolism and the associated mechanism for cancer therapy.

NADPH homeostasis in cancer: functions, mechanisms and therapeutic implications