Abstract
Apoptosis is a genetically controlled and evolutionarily conserved form of cell death of critical importance for normal embryonic development and for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis in the adult organism. The malfunction of the death machinery may play a primary or secondary role in various diseases, with essentially too little or too much apoptosis leading to proliferative or degenerative diseases, respectively. The machinery responsible for killing and degradation of the cell via apoptosis is expressed constitutively and become activated through various stimuli. Apoptotic mechanisms are operating during spontaneous regression of tumors as well as in response to treatment with antineoplastic drugs. The therapeutic goal in cancer treatment is to trigger tumor-selective cell death. However, resistance to treatment is a concern for many types of cancer. Since many anti-neoplastic agents induce an apoptotic type of death in susceptible cells, it is likely that defects or dysregulation of different steps of the apoptotic pathways might be an important determinant of resistance to anticancer drugs. These defects might appear at the initiation and/or execution stages of apoptosis and result in the insufficient elimination of tumor cells, which might lead either to acquired resistance to treatment, or to uncontrolled migration of cancer cells and metastasis. Hence, identification and targeting of the disabled pathway, which is most efficiently inactivated in a particular type of tumor might be the most successful approach in the future. Here we review current knowledge concerning function of apoptotic machinery in cancer cells, and how this information can be used to increase the efficiency of tumor treatment.
Keywords: Apoptosis, mechanisms, cancer, resistance, sensitivity, anti-cancer drug
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Role of Alterations in the Apoptotic Machinery in Sensitivity of Cancer Cells to Treatment
Volume: 12 Issue: 34
Author(s): Salvador Rodriguez-Nieto and Boris Zhivotovsky
Affiliation:
Keywords: Apoptosis, mechanisms, cancer, resistance, sensitivity, anti-cancer drug
Abstract: Apoptosis is a genetically controlled and evolutionarily conserved form of cell death of critical importance for normal embryonic development and for the maintenance of tissue homeostasis in the adult organism. The malfunction of the death machinery may play a primary or secondary role in various diseases, with essentially too little or too much apoptosis leading to proliferative or degenerative diseases, respectively. The machinery responsible for killing and degradation of the cell via apoptosis is expressed constitutively and become activated through various stimuli. Apoptotic mechanisms are operating during spontaneous regression of tumors as well as in response to treatment with antineoplastic drugs. The therapeutic goal in cancer treatment is to trigger tumor-selective cell death. However, resistance to treatment is a concern for many types of cancer. Since many anti-neoplastic agents induce an apoptotic type of death in susceptible cells, it is likely that defects or dysregulation of different steps of the apoptotic pathways might be an important determinant of resistance to anticancer drugs. These defects might appear at the initiation and/or execution stages of apoptosis and result in the insufficient elimination of tumor cells, which might lead either to acquired resistance to treatment, or to uncontrolled migration of cancer cells and metastasis. Hence, identification and targeting of the disabled pathway, which is most efficiently inactivated in a particular type of tumor might be the most successful approach in the future. Here we review current knowledge concerning function of apoptotic machinery in cancer cells, and how this information can be used to increase the efficiency of tumor treatment.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Rodriguez-Nieto Salvador and Zhivotovsky Boris, Role of Alterations in the Apoptotic Machinery in Sensitivity of Cancer Cells to Treatment, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2006; 12 (34) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161206779010495
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161206779010495 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Fungal Bioactive Compounds in Pharmaceutical Research and Development
Current Bioactive Compounds The Roles of the Unique Prolyl Isomerase Pin1 in Cancer-Related Viral and Bacterial Infections
Current Molecular Medicine Preclinical Molecular Imaging of the Translocator Protein (TSPO) in a Metastases Model Based on Breast Cancer Xenografts Propagated in the Murine Brain
Current Molecular Medicine Perspectives of Benzimidazole Derivatives as Anticancer Agents in the New Era
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry A Decrease in the Cellular Phosphodiester to Phosphomonoester Lipid Ratio is Characteristic of HIV-1 Infection
Current HIV Research Light Directed Gene Transfer by Photochemical Internalisation
Current Gene Therapy Effects of Diet-Derived Molecules on the Tumor Microenvironment
Current Angiogenesis (Discontinued) Radiolabeled RGD Peptides as Integrin alpha(v)beta3–targeted PET Tracers
Current Medicinal Chemistry Fluorine-18 Labeled Amino Acids for Oncologic Imaging with Positron Emission Tomography
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Biochemical Markers for Brain Injury Monitoring in Children with or without Congenital Heart Diseases
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Arsenic Trioxide Targets miR-125b in Glioma Cells
Current Pharmaceutical Design Editorial (Thematic Issue: Targeting Anti-Cancer Agents and Cancer Treatments)
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors: A Review on Prospectives and Therapeutic Aspects
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Hedgehog Target Genes: Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis Induced by Aberrant Hedgehog Signaling Activation
Current Molecular Medicine The Inhibitor of Growth (ING) Gene Family: Potential Role in Cancer Therapy
Current Cancer Drug Targets Mechanosensitive Ion Channels as Drug Targets
Current Drug Targets - CNS & Neurological Disorders Molecular Imaging of Breast Cancer: Role of RGD Peptides
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Patent Selections:
Current Biomarkers (Discontinued) Patient-Specific Alpha-Particle Dosimetry
Current Radiopharmaceuticals Ganglioside GD3 as a Raft Component in Cell Death Regulation
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry