Paraoxonase-2 (PON2) is a ubiquitously expressed intracellular protein that is localized in the perinuclear region, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and mitochondria, and is also associated with the plasma membrane. PON2 functions as an antioxidant enzyme by reducing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the mitochondria and ER through different mechanisms, thus having an anti-apoptotic effect and preventing the formation of atherosclerotic lesions. While the antiatherogenic role played by this enzyme has been extensively explored within endothelial cells in association with vascular disorders, in the last decade, great efforts have been made to clarify its potential involvement in both blood and solid tumors, where PON2 was reported to be overexpressed. This review aims to deeply and carefully examine the contribution of this enzyme to different aspects of tumor cells by promoting the initiation, progression, and spread of neoplasms.
Keywords: cancer cell phenotype; paraoxonase-2 enzyme; tumor biomarker.