Apoptosis: targets in pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is characterized by poor prognosis, because of late diagnosis and lack of response to chemo- and/or radiation therapies. Resistance to apoptosis mainly causes this insensitivity to conventional therapies. Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a central regulator of tissue homeostasis. Certain genetic disturbances of apoptotic signaling pathways have been found in carcinomas leading to tumor development and progression. In the past few years, the knowledge about the complex pathways of apoptosis has strongly increased and new therapeutic approaches based on this knowledge are being developed. This review will focus on the role of apoptotic proteins contributing to pancreatic cancer development and progression and will demonstrate possible targets to influence this deadly disease.
Westphal
Sabine
S
Molecular Oncology, Clinic for General and Thoracic Surgery, University of Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Str. 7, 24105 Kiel, Germany. sabinewe@yahoo.de
Kalthoff
Holger
H
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000077022:Survivin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology
C107489:BIRC5 protein, human; D006133:Growth Substances; D051034:Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000077022:Survivin; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53