Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen
19:44

Enhancement of Apoptotic and Autophagic Induction by a Novel Synthetic C-1 Analogue of 7-deoxypancratistatin in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma and Neuroblastoma Cells with Tamoxifen

Published on: May 30, 2012

Recent advances in apoptosis, mitochondria and drug resistance in cancer cells

Inthrani R Indran1, Grégory Tufo, Shazib Pervaiz

  • 1Apoptosis, ROS and Cancer Biology Program, Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117597, Singapore.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
|April 2, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Cancer cells evade programmed cell death (apoptosis). Understanding apoptosis pathways and resistance mechanisms is key to developing targeted cancer therapies, particularly by targeting mitochondria to restore cell death.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Defective apoptosis is a key characteristic of cancer.
  • Understanding apoptosis is crucial for developing new cancer treatments.
  • Cancer cells develop resistance to apoptosis, hindering therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge of apoptotic signaling pathways.
  • To outline mechanisms of cancer cell apoptosis resistance.
  • To discuss strategies targeting mitochondria to induce cancer cell death.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of apoptotic signaling.
  • Analysis of cancer cell resistance mechanisms.
  • Exploration of mitochondrial-targeting strategies.

Main Results:

  • Apoptotic defects are common in cancer.
  • Various mechanisms enable cancer cells to resist apoptosis.
  • Mitochondrial-targeting offers a promising therapeutic avenue.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting apoptosis pathways is essential for effective cancer therapy.
  • Overcoming apoptosis resistance is critical for treatment success.
  • Mitochondrial-based strategies show potential for restoring cancer cell death.

More Related Videos

An Automated Differential Nuclear Staining Assay for Accurate Determination of Mitocan Cytotoxicity07:58

An Automated Differential Nuclear Staining Assay for Accurate Determination of Mitocan Cytotoxicity

Published on: May 12, 2020

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms08:46

Implementation of In Vitro Drug Resistance Assays: Maximizing the Potential for Uncovering Clinically Relevant Resistance Mechanisms

Published on: December 9, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II01:46

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy01:22

Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy

Cells respond to damage and stress through highly coordinated processes that decide whether they survive or undergo controlled self-destruction. Two major pathways involved in this regulation are apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, and autophagy, a survival mechanism that helps cells adapt to adverse conditions.ApoptosisApoptosis removes aged or injured cells to maintain tissue balance. During this process, the cell shrinks, chromatin condenses and fragments, and membrane-bound...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...