title: Interferons as inducers of apoptosis in malignant cells.
abstract: Discovered as antiviral cytokines, interferons (IFNs) are now also recognized for their capacity to inhibit the growth of malignant cells via activation of programmed cell death, better known as apoptosis. In this review, we will cover recent advances made in this field, as it pertains to the various proposed mechanisms of IFN-induced apoptosis and the characterization of IFN-responsive genes not previously known to have apoptotic function. Also mentioned here is a description of the activation and crosstalk of survival signaling pathways as a mode of IFN resistance that remains a persistent clinical adversary to overcome and the future of IFNs as antitumor agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Temple University School of Medicine , Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kotredes
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gamero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007372:Interferons / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007372:Interferons