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Apoptosis: implications of basic research for clinical oncology

I Tamm1, F Schriever, B Dörken

  • 1Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Hamatologie, Onkologie, und Tumorimmunologie, Charité, Berlin, Germany. tamm@rrk-berlin.de

The Lancet. Oncology
|March 22, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is crucial in preventing diseases like cancer. Understanding its mechanisms offers new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for various human conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Apoptosis plays a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing disease.
  • Dysregulation of apoptosis is implicated in carcinogenesis, immune evasion, and resistance to cancer therapies.
  • The fundamental molecular machinery of apoptosis is conserved across animal species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an updated overview of the key molecular players regulating apoptosis.
  • To review the involvement of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of various human diseases.
  • To highlight novel diagnostic and therapeutic avenues emerging from apoptosis research.

Main Methods:

  • This review synthesizes findings from recent studies on apoptosis.
  • It focuses on the core protein machinery governing the cell death pathway.
  • The review integrates basic research with clinical implications.

Main Results:

  • Suppression of apoptosis contributes to cancer development through mechanisms like mutation accumulation and growth factor independence.
  • Defects in apoptosis confer resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
  • Key apoptosis-regulating proteins represent conserved targets for intervention.

Conclusions:

  • Apoptosis is a central process in human health and disease.
  • Targeting apoptosis pathways holds significant promise for developing innovative diagnostics and therapeutics.
  • Continued basic research is essential for translating these findings into clinical practice.

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