Targeting Apoptosis as a Therapeutic Approach in Cancer

Abstract

Cancer is a major health problem worldwide, it has been known in its ability in evading and escapingapoptosis. All types of cancer cells gain resistance to apoptosis; they are prone to escape the normal cellular growth and death pathways result in uncontrollable division and proliferation. Apoptosis isprogrammed cell death or cell suicide; a process normally found in every eukaryotic cell. Damaged DNA triggers the cell to activate apoptotic machinery to remove itself from the body. Apoptosis is an extremely organized process: the cellular membranes are disrupted, the chromosomes are degraded, the DNA breaks up into fragments, and the dying shrinking cell is engulfed by immune cells in a clean and orderly manner. In this review, we will discuss the apoptotic pathways that can be used as atherapeutic target in cancer.