title: Targeted induction of apoptosis for cancer therapy: current progress and prospects.
abstract: Important breakthroughs in cancer therapy include clinical application of antibodies, such as Rituximab, and small inhibitory molecules, such as Iressa and Velcade. In addition, recent reports have indicated the therapeutic potential of physiological pro-apoptotic proteins such as TRAIL and galectin-1. Although unrelated at first glance, each strategy relies on the deliberate and selective induction of apoptosis in malignant cells. Importantly, therapy-resistance in cancer is frequently associated with de-regulation in the mechanisms that control apoptosis. However, cancer cells are often reliant on these molecular aberrations for survival. Therefore, selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells but not normal cells seems feasible. Here, we review recent progress and prospects of selected novel anti-cancer approaches that specifically target and sensitize cancer cells to apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Groningen University Institute for Drug Exploration (GUIDE), Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Section Medical Biology, Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: Go
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.forename: Bart Jan
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kroesen
authors.forename: Lou
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Leij
authors.forename: Wijnand
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Helfrich
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D037161:Galectins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069283:Rituximab; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D037161:Galectins; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069283:Rituximab; D000077156:Gefitinib