Apoptosis in breast cancer

It has become increasingly clear that apoptosis plays a critical role in mammary gland development and is an important facet of mammary carcinogenesis. The critical role of apoptosis in breast cancer derives from: (1) the influence of BRCA and p53 mutations that result in continued proliferation and increased genetic instability in precancerous mammary epithelial cells that would otherwise be subject to growth arrest and/or apoptotic death: (2) the apoptosis-modulating effects of many hormones and growth factors that had independently been demonstrated to influence breast cancer development and progression; and (3) the potential diagnostic value of factors such as IGF-I and Bcl-2, whose predictive value may reflect their anti-apoptotic effects. The continuing elucidation of the molecular pathways involved in apoptosis and their regulatory mechanisms will provide new avenues for improved diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.