How does apoptosis contribute to cancer progression?
Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a mechanism that eliminates damaged or unnecessary cells. In cancer, the apoptotic pathways are often disrupted, allowing damaged cells to survive and proliferate. The BCL-2 family of proteins plays a significant role in regulating apoptosis. Overexpression of anti-apoptotic proteins like BCL-2 and BCL-XL can inhibit apoptosis, contributing to cancer progression. Conversely, pro-apoptotic proteins like BAX and BAK are often downregulated in cancer cells.
