Article

Is TRAIL the holy grail of cancer therapy?

Department of Immunology, Tumour Immunology Unit, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Campus, London, UK.
Apoptosis (impact factor: 4.07). 03/2009; 14(4):607-23. DOI:10.1007/s10495-009-0321-2 pp.607-23
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Inducing apoptosis has become an important approach in the development of new anti-cancer treatments. Tumour necrosis factor apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) based therapies have emerged as one of the most promising examples of this as they selectively induce apoptosis in tumour cells. However, many primary tumours are inherently resistant to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and require additional sensitisation. Here we review apoptotic and non-apoptotic TRAIL-signalling, and the therapeutic effects of TRAIL-based treatments both as monotherapy and in combination with sensitising agents.

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Keywords

Inducing apoptosis
 
monotherapy
 
non-apoptotic TRAIL-signalling
 
primary tumours
 
promising examples
 
sensitising agents
 
TRAIL-based treatments
 
TRAIL-mediated apoptosis
 
tumour cells
 
Tumour necrosis factor apoptosis inducing ligand