Suppression of the malignant phenotype in human pancreatic cancer cells by the overexpression of manganese superoxide dismutase.

Cells contain a large number of antioxidants to prevent or repair the damage caused by reactive oxygen species. One component of the antioxidant system, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), is localized in the mitochondria, and the levels of this protein have been previously shown to inversely correlate with pancreatic cancer cell growth. The aim of the present study was to determine whether MnSOD overexpression could suppress the in vitro and in vivo malignant phenotype of a human pancreatic cancer cell line.