Apoptosis is programmed cell death in which a sequence of events that are preprogrammed lead to cell elimination without releasing harmful substances into the surrounding cell spaces. Aberrant apoptosis has an important causative link to the development and longevity of cancers.
Cancers may be described as a complex interplay of mutagenic primers exhibiting excessive cell proliferation and consequent disruption of the cells signalling integrity in normal apoptosis.
Cancerous cells ability to effectively evade the normal cell death routines can inhibit or disrupt planned cytotoxic drug interventions.
Research strategies focus on the notion that exploiting a therapeutic induced apoptosis can achieve tumor-selective cell death without compromising normal cell function.