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Programmed cell death pathways in cancer: a review of apoptosis, autophagy and programmed necrosis

L Ouyang1, Z Shi, S Zhao

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Cell Proliferation
|October 4, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Programmed cell death (PCD), including apoptosis, autophagy, and programmed necrosis, plays a crucial role in cancer. Understanding these pathways could lead to new cancer treatments targeting cell death mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Programmed cell death (PCD) encompasses apoptosis, autophagy, and programmed necrosis, all intracellularly regulated cell death processes.
  • These PCD pathways are integral to the fate of malignant neoplasms, with apoptosis and programmed necrosis promoting cell death, while autophagy can be pro-survival or pro-death.
  • Accumulating evidence enhances our understanding of cancer initiation and progression through these distinct cell death types.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the signaling pathways of apoptosis, autophagy, and programmed necrosis in cancer.
  • To discuss the regulation of apoptosis by microRNAs in the context of cancer.
  • To highlight the potential of deciphering PCD pathways for developing targeted anti-cancer therapeutics.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of programmed cell death pathways.
  • Analysis of the interplay between apoptosis, autophagy, and programmed necrosis in cancer.
  • Examination of microRNA regulation in apoptosis related to cancer.

Main Results:

  • Apoptosis and programmed necrosis are consistently cell-lethal, whereas autophagy exhibits dual roles in cancer cell survival and death.
  • Detailed understanding of PCD pathways is crucial for cancer research.
  • MicroRNA regulation of apoptosis is a significant factor in cancer progression.

Conclusions:

  • Deciphering PCD signaling pathways offers a promising avenue for novel targeted anti-cancer therapeutic strategies.
  • Harnessing the complex interplay of apoptosis, autophagy, and programmed necrosis can lead to the discovery of new drug targets for future cancer treatment.
  • Further research into PCD mechanisms is essential for advancing cancer therapy.

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