Directing cancer cells to self-destruct with pro-apoptotic receptor agonists - PubMed (original) (raw)

Review

. 2008 Dec;7(12):1001-12.

doi: 10.1038/nrd2637. Epub 2008 Nov 7.

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Review

Directing cancer cells to self-destruct with pro-apoptotic receptor agonists

Avi Ashkenazi. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2008 Dec.

Abstract

Each day, the human body eliminates billions of unwanted cells by apoptotic suicide. Apoptosis provides an important barrier against cancer; however, specific mutations enable some tumour cells to escape apoptotic death and become more malignant. Two signalling pathways initiate apoptosis: one acts through intracellular Bcl-2 proteins, the other through cell-surface pro-apoptotic receptors. New molecular insights have inspired the development of pro-apoptotic receptor agonists (PARAs), including the recombinant human protein apoptosis ligand 2/TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL) and agonistic monoclonal antibodies to its signalling receptors. Acting alone, or in concert with other agents, PARAs may overcome key apoptosis blocks and direct cancer cells to self-destruct.

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