Novel targeted pro-apoptotic agents for the treatment of prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
We reviewed and highlighted novel targeted apoptotic mediated therapies that can be used to treat prostate cancer.


METHODS
A comprehensive review of the peer reviewed literature in the area of apoptosis was performed with special emphasis on apoptotic mediated pathways with promising novel targeted therapies that can be used for patients with prostate cancer.


RESULTS
The apoptotic pathway can be classified into 2 separate broad categories, including the extrinsic and the intrinsic pathways. Targeting the extrinsic or intrinsic mediated pathway holds promise for developing novel agents for treating prostate cancer. We discuss apoptosis related molecules and therapies, as categorized by 1) targeting apoptosis pathway for antitumor treatment, 2) targeting apoptosis regulators for antitumor treatment and 3) drugs that potentiate pro-apoptotic agents.


CONCLUSIONS
Defining the molecules responsible for apoptosis and their intricate molecular interactions will help guide us in developing drugs with less toxicity for appropriately selected patients with prostate cancer and other malignancies. Because neoadjuvant and adjuvant clinical trials are under way using novel pro-apoptotic agents for prostate cancer, it is imperative for urologists to be active members of the clinical research team and become familiar with the molecular pathways, and potential benefits and toxicities associated with these novel agents.
Huang
Xu
X
Department of Urologic Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Zhang
Xiaoping
X
Farahvash
Benyamin
B
Olumi
Aria F
AF
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins