Apoptosis drives cancer cells proliferate and metastasize

Abstract

Cancer has been considered to be the result of accumulated gene mutations, which result in uncontrolled cell proliferations for a long time. Cancers are also regarded to be capable of immune evasion. Furthermore, resistance to apoptosis was recognized as an important trait of cancer in the last score of years. However, there are numerous paradoxical issues in this whole set of theory. For example, there is no known set of genes of which mutations are responsible for human cancers. As for the trait of ‘resistance to apoptosis’, the fact is that cancer has increased frequency of apoptosis. The more malignant the tumour is, the more apoptosis shows. In this study, we propose a new theory that apoptosis plays a key role in the malignant progression and metastasis of cancer. The growth of tumour is the difference between tumour cell proliferation and attrition plus the hyperplastic growth of stroma. Increased and unpreventable death caused by innate or environmental factors such as ischaemia and inflammation drives the tumour cells to proliferate relentlessly, move to new lands to establish colonies. In short, increased cell death is the origin of malignancy.

Serum calretinin as an independent predictor for platinum resistance and prognosis in ovarian cancer

“…Since immunohistochemical studies on serous ovarian cancer reported variable CRT positivity in 0–40%, it is possible that CRT promotes growth and survival of ovarian cancer cells, as it has been shown in vitro for mesothelioma . In this scenario, CRT could possibly be released by tumor cells themselves, either by active secretion or by passive release upon tumor cell apoptosis, which is consistent with the generally high apoptotic index of malignant tumors . However, this is not necessarily the most likely way of interpretation, since CRT expression in epithelial ovarian cancer is by far lower than in sex cord stromal tumors (0–40% vs .…”

Host Age Is a Systemic Regulator of Gene Expression Impacting Cancer Progression

“…This, along with the observed dysregulation of the apoptosis pathway generally (Supplementary Table S3), suggests a generalized downregulation of apoptosis in these tumors. Some recent studies have shown a decreased tumor cell apoptosis associated with a decreased tumor growth (50). …”

The function of the RNA-binding protein hnRNP in cancer metastasis

“…Thus, some researchers propose that apoptosis plays a key role in the malignant progression and metastasis of cancer. [31] In fact, hnRNPs are affirmed to involve in the cancer-related apoptosis. Overexpression of hnRNP E2 in carcinoma cell lines leads to dramatic growth reduction and apoptosis, while knockdown of hnRNP K renders the tumor cells more susceptible to cytotoxicity and results in spontaneous tumor cell apoptosis.…”