Mitochondrial apoptosis: killing cancer using the enemy within

Lopez, J. and Tait, S. (2015) Mitochondrial apoptosis: killing cancer using the enemy within. British Journal of Cancer, 112(6), pp. 957-962. (doi: 10.1038/bjc.2015.85) (PMID:25742467) (PMCID:PMC4366906)

Abstract

Apoptotic cell death inhibits oncogenesis at multiple stages, ranging from transformation to metastasis. Consequently, in order for cancer to develop and progress, apoptosis must be inhibited. Cell death also plays major roles in cancer treatment, serving as the main effector function of many anti-cancer therapies. In this review, we discuss the role of apoptosis in the development and treatment of cancer. Specifically, we focus upon the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis—the most commonly deregulated form of cell death in cancer. In this process, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilisation or MOMP represents the defining event that irrevocably commits a cell to die. We provide an overview of how this pathway is regulated by BCL-2 family proteins and describe ways in which cancer cells can block it. Finally, we discuss exciting new approaches aimed at specifically inducing mitochondrial apoptosis in cancer cells, outlining their potential pitfalls, while highlighting their considerable therapeutic promise.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Tait, Professor Stephen and Lopez, Dr Jonathan
• Authors: Lopez, J., and Tait, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
• Journal Name: British Journal of Cancer
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• ISSN: 0007-0920
• ISSN (Online): 1532-1827
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 Cancer Research UK.
• First Published: First published in British Journal of Cancer 112(6):957-962
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License