Targeted induction of apoptosis for cancer therapy: current progress and prospects

Edwin Bremer, Go van Dam, Bart Jan Kroesen, Lou de Leij, Wijnand Helfrich*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

118 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Important breakthroughs in cancer therapy include clinical application of antibodies, such as Rituximab, and small inhibitory molecules, such as Iressa and Velcade. In addition, recent reports have indicated the therapeutic potential of physiological pro-apoptotic proteins such as TRAIL and galectin-1. Although unrelated at first glance, each strategy relies on the deliberate and selective induction of apoptosis in malignant cells. Importantly, therapy-resistance in cancer is frequently associated with de-regulation in the mechanisms that control apoptosis. However, cancer cells are often reliant on these molecular aberrations for survival. Therefore, selective induction of apoptosis in cancer cells but not normal cells seems feasible. Here, we review recent progress and prospects of selected novel anti-cancer approaches that specifically target and sensitize cancer cells to apoptosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)382-393
Number of pages12
JournalTrends in Molecular Medicine
Volume12
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug-2006

Keywords

  • HISTONE DEACETYLASE INHIBITORS
  • CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC-LEUKEMIA
  • ACUTE MYELOID-LEUKEMIA
  • STRAIL FUSION PROTEIN
  • RECEPTOR-MEDIATED APOPTOSIS
  • SMALL-MOLECULE ANTAGONISTS
  • BCL-2 FAMILY PROTEINS
  • INDUCIBLE-FACTOR-I
  • HUMAN TUMOR-CELLS
  • ANTIPROLIFERATIVE CYTOKINE

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