Exploring death receptor pathways as selective targets in cancer therapy

A recent and innovative strategy in cancer therapy is the activation of apoptosis in tumour cells specifically expressing death receptors (DR) belonging to the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily and including several members known since the early '90. Among these, those largely studied for clinical purpose are TNF, CD95, and TRAIL receptors. Promising results are expecting from ongoing phases I/II clinical trials proving the therapeutic efficacy of DR agonistic antibodies and/or recombinant proteins alone or in association to classic and novel chemotherapeutic drugs. However, two key issues need extensive studies, before clinical and safe applications of DRs as effective anticancer drugs can be accepted: i. DR-based cancer therapy must be selective and effective against a broad range of cancers and reduce excessive systemic toxicity toward normal cells and tumour resistance after recurrent treatments; ii. an improved knowledge of mechanisms of alternative signalling triggered by DR ligands and leading to cell survival and apoptotic resistance. Activation of survival pathways regulated by key factors, such as NF-kappaB, JNK, p38, ERK and PI(3)K are the focus of several studies revealing the dark side of DR signalling. The present review focuses on new insights in the signalling and clinical application of TNF, CD95 and TRAIL receptors.