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Published on: January 11, 2019

Recent advances in targeting regulators of apoptosis in cancer cells for therapeutic gain

Kathryn Taylor1, Dimitra Micha, Malcolm Ranson

  • 1Paterson Institute for Cancer Research, Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology Group, University of Manchester, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 4BX, UK.

Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs
|May 31, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells resist apoptosis but are primed to die. New therapies aim to restore apoptosis for targeted cancer cell death, offering potentially reduced toxicity and overcoming treatment resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Cellular biology
  • Molecular oncology
  • Cancer therapeutics

Background:

  • Apoptosis is crucial for tissue homeostasis; its deregulation is linked to diseases like cancer.
  • Cancer cells often resist apoptosis due to altered molecular pathways but are susceptible to stress.
  • Understanding apoptosis deregulation in cancer is key to developing new treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of apoptosis deregulation in cancer.
  • To review emerging therapies targeting apoptosis in cancer treatment.
  • To discuss the potential of mechanism-based and tailored therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on apoptosis and cancer biology.
  • Analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying apoptosis resistance in cancer.
  • Evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies targeting apoptotic pathways.

Main Results:

  • Cancer cells exhibit resistance to apoptosis but possess vulnerabilities.
  • New therapies aim to re-engage apoptosis for selective tumor cell killing.
  • Mechanism-based therapies may offer improved toxicity profiles.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting apoptosis is a promising strategy for cancer treatment.
  • Tailored therapies and combination approaches can overcome treatment resistance.
  • Restoring apoptosis offers a pathway to more effective and less toxic cancer therapies.

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