Apoptosis

The kinetics of cell proliferation in tumours depends on the balance between cellular proliferation and the rate of deletion, which in part occurs by apoptosis.

The final common cascade for apoptosis is through a series of self-activating proteases known as caspases. Activation of caspases occurs through two pathways, one mitochondrial and a second known as the extrinsic pathway.

References

Leoncini, L., Lazzi, S., Bellan, C. and Tosi, P. Cell kinetics and cell cycle regulation in lymphomas. J Clin Pathol 2002;55:648-55.

This page last revised 13.5.2003.

©SMUHT/PW Bishop