Resisting cell death

Definition

Resisting cell death refers to the ability of cells, particularly cancer cells, to evade the normal mechanisms of apoptosis (programmed cell death) and survive in conditions that would typically lead to their elimination. This characteristic is a fundamental hallmark of cancer, allowing tumor cells to persist, proliferate, and become more aggressive. By overcoming cell death signals, cancer cells can maintain their growth advantage and contribute to the development of tumors.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Resisting cell death is a key feature of cancer that enables cells to survive despite unfavorable conditions such as low nutrient availability or exposure to chemotherapy.
2. Cancer cells often upregulate anti-apoptotic proteins and downregulate pro-apoptotic factors to enhance their survival capabilities.
3. The evasion of apoptosis allows tumors not only to grow but also to develop resistance to various treatments, complicating effective cancer therapy.
4. Several signaling pathways, such as the PI3K/Akt pathway, are involved in promoting resistance to cell death by enhancing cell survival signals.
5. Research into targeting the mechanisms of resisting cell death is an active area in cancer therapy development, with drugs aimed at reactivating apoptotic pathways showing promise.

Review Questions

• How does resisting cell death contribute to the overall progression and aggressiveness of cancer?
  • Resisting cell death allows cancer cells to survive under conditions that would normally trigger their elimination, contributing to tumor growth and progression. By evading apoptosis, these cells can accumulate genetic mutations and acquire traits that enhance their malignancy. This survival advantage leads to increased tumor size and the potential for metastasis, making cancer more aggressive and difficult to treat.
• Discuss the role of specific proteins like Survivin in the context of resisting cell death in cancer cells.
  • Survivin is a key protein that inhibits apoptosis and is often overexpressed in cancer cells, contributing significantly to their ability to resist cell death. By blocking pro-apoptotic signals, Survivin helps cancer cells survive in adverse conditions, including treatment with chemotherapy. Targeting Survivin or similar anti-apoptotic proteins offers a potential therapeutic strategy for re-sensitizing tumors to treatment and overcoming drug resistance.
• Evaluate the significance of targeting apoptosis pathways in developing new cancer therapies focused on overcoming resistance to cell death.
  • Targeting apoptosis pathways represents a promising approach in developing novel cancer therapies aimed at overcoming resistance to cell death. By reactivating apoptotic mechanisms within resistant tumor cells, these therapies can potentially restore the effectiveness of existing treatments and improve patient outcomes. This strategy not only addresses the fundamental issue of cancer cell survival but also has implications for reducing tumor recurrence and enhancing long-term remission rates.

Related terms

Apoptosis: A form of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms, allowing cells to die in a controlled and regulated manner.

Survivin: An inhibitor of apoptosis protein that is overexpressed in many cancers, helping tumor cells avoid cell death.

Bcl-2 family proteins: A group of proteins that regulate apoptosis by either promoting or inhibiting cell death, playing a crucial role in determining a cell's fate.