Regulators of apoptosis as anticancer targets.
For the majority of patients with advance malignancies, current therapies are noncurative. Developing therapeutic agents that enhance the apoptotic effects and hence antitumor potential of currently available chemotherapy agents represents a rationale investigative strategy. Several chemotherapeutic agents including antimicrotubule agents and all-trans-retinoic acid utilize these pathways to mediate tumor cell killing. With specific agents such as oblimersan sodium in randomized "pivotal" studies, and agents targeting the TRAIL receptor-family recently entering early clinical study, cautious optimism is warranted.
Tolcher
Anthony W
AW
Institute for Drug Development, Cancer Therapy and Research Center, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA. atolcher@saci.org
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008954:Models, Biological; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D020319:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D053221:TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand; C505653:TNFSF10 protein, human; D013873:Thionucleotides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014212:Tretinoin; C408162:oblimersen