Chapter 5 – Update on the Regulation of Apoptosis in Prostate Cancer

This chapter discusses some of the recent proteins implicated in the regulation of prostate cancer cell death, specifically the antiapoptotic proteins (inhibitors of apoptosis proteins), growth factors that activate the intracellular signaling AKT survival pathways, and the pro-apoptotic proteins (caspases). Cancer is associated with uncontrolled proliferation and loss of apoptotic potential leading to the development of tumor masses. Understanding the cellular mechanisms that regulate the cell-death pathway has important implications in the detection and treatment of prostate cancer as well as other related diseases. The inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) are a recently identified group of antiapoptotic proteins. The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system has been shown to play an important role in proliferation and differentiation of tissues. It has also been implicated in the process of transformation to human epithelial prostate carcinoma. An understanding as to how deregulation of the caspases contributes to cancer development will help in therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing progression to the androgen-insensitive state. Caspases have also been shown to be involved during prostate regression following castration. These proteins will help in the regulation of prostate cancer resistance to treatment and will represent future targets for manipulation.