How cells dodge death: Newly identified protein regulator could reshape cancer treatment

Article excerpt

Our bodies are constantly deciding which cells should live and which should die through a process called apoptosis. This type of programmed cell death enables organisms to remove damaged or potentially dangerous cells in a controlled way. Apoptosis is a balancing act, too little of it can allow abnormal cells to survive and grow into cancer, while too much can lead to developmental problems or degenerative diseases. This process is regulated by complex networks of chemical signals, including proteins that either promote or block apoptosis.