Evasion of Apoptosis as a Cellular Stress Response in Cancer

Abstract

One of the hallmarks of human cancers is the intrinsic or acquired resistance to apoptosis. Evasion of apoptosis can be part of a cellular stress response to ensure the cell's survival upon exposure to stressful stimuli. Apoptosis resistance may contribute to carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and also treatment resistance, since most current anticancer therapies including chemotherapy as well as radio- and immunotherapies primarily act by activating cell death pathways including apoptosis in cancer cells. Hence, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms regarding how cellular stress stimuli trigger antiapoptotic mechanisms and how this contributes to tumor resistance to apoptotic cell death is expected to provide the basis for a rational approach to overcome apoptosis resistance mechanisms in cancers.

Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of pinocembrin in human prostate cancer cells

“…The normal cellular signals for regulation of their growth are lost in the cancerous cells due to various mutations, preventing the cells from apoptosis and cell growth to uncontrolled status (Hanahan and Weinberg, 2000). The regulation of apoptosis is, therefore, most important in the treatment of cancer (Fulda, 2010;Lawen, 2003;Reed, 2002). The chemopreventive agents, which can treat the cancer effectively, have potential to restore the natural signaling apoptotic pathway (Reed, 1999).…”

Molecular Mechanisms of Apoptosis and Roles in Cancer Development and Treatment

“…Apoptotic pathways can be altered by cancer cells transcriptionally, translationally, and post translationally. Significantly, these mechanisms are not exclusive and cancer cells can use a number of diverse strategies to evade apoptosis (Fulda, 2010). Several proteins have been described that apply pro-or antiapoptotic activity in the cell.…”

Jaceosidin inhibits proliferation of human bladder cancer T24 cells through induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

“…More than 50% of neoplasm's undergo aberrations in the apoptotic machinery which leads to abnormal cell proliferation (Mashima and Tsuruo, 2005;Pommier et al, 2004). The regulation of apoptosis is, therefore, the most important in the treatment of cancer (Fulda, 2010;Lawen, 2003;Reed, 2002). Accumulated evidences indicated that the most of chemotherapeutic agents halt tumor cells proliferation via induction of apoptosis (Saha et al, 2010;Wu et al, 2009;Zhang, 2002).…”