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X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis: a chemoresistance factor or a hollow promise

Hamid Kashkar1

  • 1Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, Köln, Germany. h.kashkar@uni-koeln.de

Clinical Cancer Research : an Official Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
|August 5, 2010
PubMed

Insights

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) protein inhibits caspases, promoting apoptosis resistance. While XIAP is a cancer drug resistance target, its role in malignant transformation may be more significant than solely causing chemoresistance.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) is a key cellular regulator of apoptosis.
  • XIAP inhibits caspases, enzymes crucial for programmed cell death.
  • Elevated XIAP expression is common in malignant cells and linked to apoptosis resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of XIAP in cancer.
  • To explore XIAP's contribution to chemoresistance and malignant progression.
  • To evaluate XIAP as a therapeutic target and biomarker in oncology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of XIAP's function in apoptosis and cancer.
  • Analysis of XIAP's role in chemoresistance mechanisms.
  • Exploration of XIAP's involvement in malignant transformation and progression.

Main Results:

  • XIAP potently inhibits caspases, conferring resistance to apoptosis.
  • High XIAP expression in tumors is associated with resistance to chemotherapy.
  • XIAP's function may also drive malignant transformation and cancer progression, not just resistance.

Conclusions:

  • XIAP is a critical inhibitor of apoptosis and a target for cancer therapy.
  • The elevated expression of XIAP in cancer may not solely explain chemoresistance.
  • XIAP's role in malignant transformation and progression warrants further investigation.

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