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Apoptosis and growth
Apoptosis Necrosis Cancer PathwayApoptosis Cell DefinitionTumour cell death may also be dysregulated. Normal cells usually die by an active and tightly regulated process known as apoptosis, or 'programmed cell death'. Apoptosis can occur in response to a number of physiological or pathological stimuli (tumour necrosis factor, fas ligand, and DNA-damaging cytotoxic drugs) and is mediated within the cell by a family of proteins known as caspases. Caspase activity is, in turn, regulated by intracellular inhibitors such as the Bcl-2 family of proteins and the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). Disturbances in the normal balance of these various proteins have been identified which favour survival of tumour cells over their normal counterparts. An example is the upregulation of the Bcl-2 protein in follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
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