title: "Bak (and Bax) to the future"--of primary melanoma prognosis?
abstract: Bcl-2 proteins either block or activate the "intrinsic" mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Loss of expression of proapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, namely Bax and Bak, in primary melanomas is associated with a worse long-term prognosis. Consequently, inactivation of mitochondrial signaling pathways of apoptosis may not only be a prerequisite for melanoma progression but may also hamper therapeutic efforts with chemotherapeutic drugs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Experimental Dermatology, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. leverkus@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leverkus
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gollnick
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy; D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D050998:bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein