Triggering apoptosis in tumors: an overview of potential approaches in treatment of leukemia

Abstract

Apoptosis, as a well-studied process of a programmed cell death, is essential for the maintenance of cell homeostasis and integrity of organisms. This process occurs normally during development and aging and it is a balance of the sustainability of the tissue cell population. In addition, apoptosis also occurs as a defensive mechanism such as an immune response or after cell damage as a consequence of a pathological condition or the action of harmful agents. Apoptotic activation tends to be less responsive with aging, causing accumulation of non-functional cells and pathological changes such are degenerative diseases or tumor transformation. This overview aims to provide summarized facts about different approaches of apoptosis research, targeting and regulation in tumors especially in leukemic cells as a way of pharmacological manipulation with a potential therapeutic benefit.

Investigating the Antioxidant and Apoptosis Inducing Effects of Biologically Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Against Lymphoma Cells in Vitro

“…Cancer cells evade apoptosis and continue to proliferate even when they lose their genomic and cellular integrity [17]. One of the leading approaches to treating cancers like leukemia is to induce apoptosis in them [18,19]. Various studies pointed out Ag NP's potential as an anticancer agent mainly through two mechanisms: the first is by increasing reactive oxygen species production, which results in cellular damage and causes the upregulation of apoptotic genes like caspase 8, 9, 3, p53, bax, and bak; conversely, it downregulates antiapoptotic genes like bcl-2 and bcl-XL [20,21].…”