Catalase: The golden key to regulate oxidative stress in breast cancer

Catalase (CAT) is a kind of tetrameric protein in the human body, play as a key regulator for controlling oxidative stress. The main function of CAT is to regulate the concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) by catalyzing the decomposition of H₂O₂. At present, it is reported that CAT is also involved in regulating the oxidative stress in tumor cells, and its expression level is significantly related to the development of breast cancer (BC). In addition, CAT with different expression patterns, was related in the proliferation, invasion, treatment and prognosis of BC cells. Meanwhile, BC is a common and well-known cancer among women worldwide, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Therefore, in-depth study of CAT in the pathogenesis and progression of BC is of great significance for the future treatment and diagnosis. The present review summarized the effects of oxidative stress on cancer cells, and emphasized the key role of CAT in the development of BC, which provides a key clue for promoting research on BC and selecting therapeutic targets.