Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Establishing Cell Lines Overexpressing DR3 to Assess the Apoptotic Response to Anti-mitotic Therapeutics
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Establishing Cell Lines Overexpressing DR3 to Assess the Apoptotic Response to Anti-mitotic Therapeutics

Published on: January 11, 2019

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Therapeutics Targeting the Core Apoptotic Machinery

Claudia Hamilton1, Jennifer P Fox1, Daniel B Longley1

  • 1Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queens University, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK.

Cancers
|June 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Targeting cancer cell apoptosis pathways offers a promising therapeutic strategy. This review covers key molecular targets, drug development, and resistance factors for novel anti-cancer treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cancer cells often rely on anti-apoptotic proteins for survival.
  • Targeting these proteins offers a direct method for cancer cell death.
  • Apoptosis pathways are increasingly recognized as valid anti-cancer therapeutic targets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the main apoptosis pathways and key molecular targets in cancer drug development.
  • To discuss the clinical progress of agents targeting apoptosis.
  • To explore resistance mechanisms and combination strategies for apoptosis-targeting therapeutics.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications and clinical trial data.
  • Analysis of molecular targets within intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways.
  • Examination of emerging resistance factors and combinatorial treatment approaches.

Main Results:

  • Several agents targeting apoptosis pathways are in clinical development.
  • Key molecular targets include proteins in both mitochondrial and death receptor pathways.
  • Emerging resistance factors necessitate the exploration of combination therapies.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting apoptosis pathways represents a significant advancement in anti-cancer therapeutics.
  • Understanding resistance mechanisms is crucial for optimizing treatment efficacy.
  • Combination strategies hold promise for overcoming resistance and enhancing treatment outcomes.
Keywords:
FLIPapoptosiscancer therapeuticsresistance

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