Impact of proapoptotic proteins Bax and Bak in tumor progression and response to treatment

The cell death program, apoptosis, is currently viewed as the ultimate obstacle in cancer therapy. Inhibition of apoptosis is thought to be involved in both tumorigenesis and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. Considerable efforts are underway to design new tools capable of overcoming this inhibition. In this review, the current understanding of mechanisms of apoptosis in normal and tumor cells as well as possible or existing strategies designed to induce specific and efficient cell death in cancers are summarized.