Modulation of apoptosis signaling for cancer therapy.

Apoptosis, the cell's intrinsic death program, plays a central role in regulating tissue homeostasis. Also, most cytotoxic therapies used for cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, gamma-irradiation, suicide genes, or immunotherapy, predominantly act by triggering apoptosis in target cells. Thus, understanding the molecular events that regulate apoptosis and how tumor cells evade apoptotic deletion have provided a paradigm to link cancer genetics and response to cancer therapy. Therefore, insights into the mechanisms regulating drug-induced apoptosis provide rational targets for novel therapeutic interventions.