Cell Death Signaling in Cancer Biology and Treatment

A key goal in the treatment of cancer is to achieve selective and efficient killing of tumor cells. The aim of Cell Death Signaling in Cancer Biology and Treatment is to describe state-of-the-art approaches and future opportunities for achieving this goal by targeting mechanisms and pathways that regulate cancer cell death. In this book, molecular defects in cell death signaling that characterize cancer cells, including dysregulation of cell death due to overexpression/hyperactivation of oncoproteins, as well as the loss of tumor suppressor proteins will be described. The potential for targeting microRNAs will be discussed. Multiple chapters will describe preclinical and clinical approaches that are currently being used to target epigenetic modifications, DNA repair pathways, and protein chaperones, as a means of provoking tumor cell death. Finally, the development and application of novel agents and approaches for targeting specific components of cell death signaling pathways and machinery will be reviewed. Defects in cell death pathways promote tumor development and progression, with potentially devastating consequences for cancer patients. Greater understanding of the defects occurring in cancer cells, and the unique characteristics of tumors which can make them vulnerable to cell death stimuli, offers tremendous opportunities for developing novel and effective anti-cancer therapies. In Cell Death in Cancer Biology and Treatment leading experts in the field provide a wealth of up-to-date knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms and cell biological processes that control cell death. Each chapter also highlights recent advances in the translation of basic research findings into clinical trials. Beginning and established investigators alike will benefit from the thorough presentations of the most promising avenues for future development of cell death-based, anti-cancer strategies and agents.
The volume begins with a detailed description of many of the cell