Apoptosis in Glial Brain Tumors

Apoptosis, a form of programmed cell suicide, can be thought of as one mechanism by which organisms prevent the formation and progression of malignant neoplasms. Cells that have incurred irreparable damage to their DNA and subsequently escaped the tight controls placed upon proliferation and migration may be eliminated, under normal circumstances, by activation of their intrinsic apoptotic program. Deac-tivation of the apoptotic program, and hence propagation of mutations produced by DNA damage, may be a necessary precursor to cancer. This article describes the basic cellular elements and signal transduction pathways that underlie apoptosis and examines in more detail the potential role(s) that each of these elements may play in the genesis and progression of glial neoplasms. Finally, it describes attempts that have been made to design clinical therapies directed at increasing the sensitivity of these tumors to apoptotic stimuli