Implications of apoptotic cell death regulation in cancer therapy.

The process of programmed cell death, or apoptosis, is now recognized as an important component of multistep carcinogenesis. Traditionally, interventions used in the treatment of cancer patients were predicated on enhanced rates of proliferation in the tumor cells. It is now appreciated that tumor growth may, in many circumstances, be more a function of reduced rates of cell death rather than enhanced proliferation per se. Our understanding of the molecular regulation of apoptotic cell death is leading to the design and implementation of treatment strategies based on cell death induction.