Tumor Development and Apoptosis

Abstract

Apoptosis or other types of active cell death may play a major role at various stages of carcinogenesis. Active cell death can be induced, by internal and exogenous signals, in preneoplastic, neoplastic and even malignant cells. It may reverse the effects of initiation and promotion and may lead to tumor regression. Conversely tumor promoters may inhibit active cell death in preneoplastic cells and thereby accelerate cancer development.

Met‐enkephalin induces cytolytic processes of apoptotic type in K562 human erythroid leukemia cells

“…2 le, Lding to the formation of 200 bp DNA fragments. As desc~'ibed by Golstein et al [7], the presence of internucleosomal D XlA fragmentation has been used as a major marker for cell death of this type [7,8] and we may thus conclude that Meten kephalin induces the apoptotic mechanism of cell death in K ~62 tumor cells. Several aspects of the results obtained require further cornmint and explanation.…”

Acetone extract of Angelica sinensis inhibits proliferation of human cancer cells via inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

“…Genetic alternations resulting loss of apoptosis or disturbance of apoptosis-signaling pathways are likely to be critical components of carcinogenesis (Schulte-Hermann et al, 1994). Apoptosis is modulated by anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic effectors, which involve a large number of proteins.…”

Heterogeneous topographic profiles of kinetic and cell cycle regulator microsatellites in atypical (dysplastic) melanocytic nevi

“…[6][7][8] Selective kinetic advantages contribute to dominant growth [9][10][11][12] and are mainly regulated at the restriction point by TP53, pRB, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (Figure 1), 13 where a maintained G 1 arrest will lead to apoptosis only if pRB is not functional. 1,14 Genetic lesions within all cells imply a common progenitor contributing that mutation, 9,15,16 and it has been found to be associated with loss of heterozygosity of certain loci.…”