Apoptosis in cancer: cause and cure

The accumulation of neoplastic cells can occur through enhanced proliferati on, diminished cell turnover, or a combination of both processes. Although the potential contribution of diminished cell turnover to tumor development has been appreciated for a decade, more recent studies in animal models an d clinical cancer specimens have elucidated the mechanisms by which alterat ions in the apoptotic machinery contribute to the process of carcinogenesis , At the same time, a different group of studies have demonstrated the feas ibility of eliminating neoplastic cells by selectively inducing apoptosis, In this essay, we review recent developments in the fields of carcinogenesi s-and molecular therapeutics in light of new understanding of apoptotic pat hways. BioEssays 22:1007-1017, 2000, (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.