Enhancing non-small cell lung cancer therapy with superoxide dismutase mimetics and pharmacological ascorbate

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer associated mortality and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises roughly 80% of these cases. Currently, NSCLC therapy involves a combination of radiation and platinum-based chemotherapy. While these treatment modalities have proven effective, they are also associated with normal tissue toxicity impacting quality of life in these patients. This thesis studies redox active small molecules as adjuvants in NSCLC cancer therapy that both: 1) protect normal tissue from toxicity related to radio-chemotherapy by acting as an antioxidant; and 2) act in a pro-oxidant fashion in cancer cells to improve the tumor therapeutic efficacy based on fundamental differences in cancer and normal cell metabolism.