title: Impact of proapoptotic proteins Bax and Bak in tumor progression and response to treatment.
abstract: The cell death program, apoptosis, is currently viewed as the ultimate obstacle in cancer therapy. Inhibition of apoptosis is thought to be involved in both tumorigenesis and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. Considerable efforts are underway to design new tools capable of overcoming this inhibition. In this review, the current understanding of mechanisms of apoptosis in normal and tumor cells as well as possible or existing strategies designed to induce specific and efficient cell death in cancers are summarized.
authors.affiliation: Inserm UMR 419, IFR 26, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Pierre-François
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Cartron
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juin
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meflah
authors.forename: François M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Vallette
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: C494772:BAK1 protein, human; C494826:BAX protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein