Title:Beneficial Outcomes of Cancer Therapeutic Modalities Based on Targeting
Apoptosis
Volume: 23
Issue: 10
Author(s): Asmaa F. Khafaga, Abd Elmonem M. Barakat, Ahmed E. Noreldin and Dina Johar*
Affiliation:
- Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Women for Arts, Sciences and Education, Ain Shams University, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt
Keywords:
Programmed cell death, apoptosis, anticancer, protein therapy, immune therapy, gene therapy.
Abstract:
Background: In the clinical setting, anticancer therapy is routinely administered to stimulate
programmed cell death or “apoptosis.” The goal is to eliminate tumor cells. Whether selective
activation of apoptosis facilitates aggressive disease relapse in the longer term is still unaddressed.
Apoptosis defects have a crucial role in cancer progression and carcinogenesis. Thus, targeting
apoptosis may be important in developing new cancer therapeutic modalities.
Methods: We summarize the shift in thinking that, while apoptosis is a barrier to oncogenesis, it
paradoxically drives cancer formation and progression when executed incompletely, i.e., sublethal
apoptosis. Also, we review apoptotic mechanisms, the role of apoptosis in carcinogenesis, and how
it contributes to cancer treatment.
Result and Conclusion: Most current research focuses on the extent of cell death in vitro, but no
evidence exists that protein regulation of cell death in vitro is similar to what happens in vivo. Future
research requires identifying targets upstream and downstream of such proteins through identifying
protein-protein interactions in different survival/apoptosis pathways. Finding nexuses where
such pathways interconnect is critical, along with possible mechanisms for regulation.
