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Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis
12:55

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Published on: February 16, 2015

Getting back on track, or what to do when apoptosis is de-railed: recoupling oncogenes to the apoptotic machinery

Howard O Fearnhead1

  • 1Apoptosis Section, Regulation of Cell Growth Laboratory, NCI-Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA. hfearnhead@ncifcrf.gov

Cancer Biology & Therapy
|January 17, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells evade programmed cell death (apoptosis) through oncogene mutations, leading to drug resistance. Understanding these links is key to developing new cancer therapies targeting apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Death Research

Background:

  • Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is crucial in limiting cancer development and is a target for chemotherapy.
  • Oncogenes that disrupt cell cycle control often induce apoptosis, eliminating abnormal cells.
  • Cancer cells acquire mutations to evade apoptosis, promoting uncontrolled growth and drug resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review how oncogenes activate apoptosis.
  • To examine the mechanisms by which cancer cells subvert apoptotic pathways.
  • To discuss therapeutic strategies targeting these apoptosis-related changes in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of oncogene function in apoptosis.
  • Analysis of genetic mutations compromising apoptotic pathways in cancer.
  • Synthesis of current and proposed therapeutic approaches.

Main Results:

  • Oncogenes are intrinsically linked to apoptosis activation.
  • Cancer cells develop resistance by disabling apoptotic signaling.
  • Therapeutic strategies aim to restore or exploit apoptotic pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the oncogene-apoptosis axis is vital for cancer progression insights.
  • Targeting apoptosis offers a promising avenue for overcoming chemo-resistance in malignancies.
  • Developing novel therapies that re-engage apoptosis is central to effective cancer treatment.

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