Apoptosis and tumourigenesis.
Avoidance of apoptosis is a cornerstone of tumourigenesis. The functions of key molecules that either sense DNA damage or that commit cells to die are lost during tumorigenesis. Frequently, during tumourigenesis, cells increase their survival signals. The initiation of apoptosis by DNA damage signals was shown to absolutely depend on the expression of either Bax or Bak. Single oncogenes, such as BCR-ABL, which provide survival signals, were argued to be sufficient to support the oncogenic state; suppression-induced apoptosis and tumour regression in vivo. The concept of tumour maintenance by a single oncogene, inhibiting apoptosis, is of interest.
Hickman
John A
JA
Institut de Recherches Servier, 11 rue des Moulineaux, 92150 Suresnes, Paris, France. john.hickman@fr.netgrs.com
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D004249:DNA Damage; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000473:pathology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009857:Oncogenes; D016315:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / Q000502:physiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl; D016315:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl