title: Anti-apoptotic proteins on guard of melanoma cell survival.
abstract: Apoptosis plays a pivotal role in sustaining proper tissue development and homeostasis. Evading apoptosis by cancer cells is a part of their adaption to microenvironment and therapies. Cellular integrity is predominantly maintained by pro-survival members of Bcl-2 family and IAPs. Melanoma cells are characterized by a labile and stage-dependent phenotype. Pro-survival molecules can protect melanoma cells from apoptosis and mediate other processes, thus enhancing aggressive phenotype. The essential role of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bcl-X(L), livin, survivin and XIAP was implicated for melanoma, often in a tumor stage-dependent fashion. In this review, the current knowledge of pro-survival machinery in melanoma is discussed.
authors: Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors: Mariusz L
authors: ML
authors: Hartman
authors: Malgorzata
authors: M
authors: Czyz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins