Apoptosis and colorectal cancer: implications for therapy.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by the partial suppression of apoptosis, which in turn gives tumours a selective advantage for survival and can cause current chemotherapy approaches to be ineffective. Recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of apoptosis in colorectal carcinogenesis has provided potential new targets for therapy. Here, we review recent studies of the regulation of apoptosis and its role in CRC initiation and progression, and we discuss the relationship between chemoresistance and the suppression of apoptosis. Recent progress in targeting apoptotic pathways and their regulators provide strategies for the exploration of novel therapies for CRC.
University College London, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK. shiyu.yang@medsch.ucl.ac.uk <shiyu.yang@medsch.ucl.ac.uk>
Shi Yu
SY
Yang
Kevin M
KM
Sales
Barry
B
Fuller
Alexander M
AM
Seifalian
Marc C
MC
Winslet
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins