Apoptosis in cancer therapy

In third world countries like India, due to adverse oral habits like tobacco chewing oral cancers are one of the main health problems. Understanding and identifying markers that help us identify cancer early before the consequences become clinically and histologically detectable will greatly enhance the prognosis. Apoptosis is one such early diagnostic marker for cancer and is programed, active process that dismantles the cellular components without evoking an inflammatory response. It is known to remove all mutated and potentially malignant cells; hence, control of apoptosis is considered to play a key role in carcinogenesis. Through adequate cancer therapies, apoptotic programs can be modified to produce potential drug targets. Gene therapy in combination with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy has been an attractive method of cancer treatment. In the coming years, new therapies that are nontoxic than present treatment regimens will pave a new path in cancer research. The aim of this review is to understand the part of apoptosis in cancer treatment.