APOPTOSIS: MOLECULAR MECHANISM AND TARGET IN CANCER THERAPY

Aneesa Fatima (BSc MLT)*, Neeru Bhaskar (MD Biochemisry), Rahul Kumar Mishr (MSc MLT Biochemistry), Shikhaa Mahajan (MD Biochemistry), Suvarna Prasad (MD Biochemistry), Nisha (MSc Medical Biochemistry)

ABSTRACT

Programmed cell death, or apoptosis has in the past two years undoubtly become more investigated biological process. Apoptosis is fundamentally distinct from other types of cell death based on its incidence, morphology and biochemistry. Particular morphological alterations of apoptotic cells include nuclear condensation and fragmentation, cell shrinkage, dynamic membrane blebbing, and loss of adhesion to extracellular matrices or to neighbors. Deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and its defective status opens the gate for a new class of targeted therapeutics.

Keywords: Apoptosis, Caspases, Cancer.