J Cancer Cure | Volume 1, Issue 1 | Review Article | Open Access

Exploiting the Extrinsic and the Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathways for Cancer Therapeutics

Louiza Belkacemi*

Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, USA

*Correspondance to: Louiza Belkacemi 

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Abstract

Cell death or apoptosis is a cellular process that occurs in physiological and pathological conditions. Cancer is a scenario where there is too little apoptosis. Apoptotic extrinsic and intrinsic signaling pathways are twomajor mechanisms of apoptosis. Defects can occur at any point along these pathways, leading to malignant transformation and resistance to anti-cancer drugs. The understanding of the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic signaling mechanisms has provided the basis for novel targeted therapies that can stimulate death in cancer cells and or sensitize them to established cytotoxic agents and radiation therapy. This review focuses on the current knowledge of the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways to apoptosis in normal and diseased cells and the agents developed to target them.

Keywords:

Apoptosis; Cancer therapeutics; Extrinsic pathways; Intrinsic pathways

Citation:

Belkacemi L. Exploiting the Extrinsic and the Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathways for Cancer Therapeutics. J Cancer Cure. 2018;1(1):1004.

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