title: Bcl-2 family members: essential players in skin cancer.
abstract: Skin cancer has reached epidemic proportions and is considered to be a direct consequence of ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. Excessive exposure of epidermal cells to UV results in apoptosis of irreparably damaged cells to avoid malignant transformation. The Bcl-2 family of proteins is emerging as a crucial regulator of epidermal homeostasis and cell's fate in the stressed skin. Not surprisingly, deregulation of Bcl-2 family members is also chiefly involved in skin carcinogenesis and response to cancer therapy. Here we discuss the physiopathological role of epidermal Bcl-2 family members, their implications in skin carcinogenesis and as potential targets in cancer therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cell Death Research & Therapy Unit, Department for Molecular Cell Biology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nys
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agostinis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2