Programmed cell death regulation: basic mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.

The molecular mechanisms responsible for induction or inhibition of apoptosis signal transduction have been intensively investigated during the past few years. Information gained from mechanistic studies and from structural analysis of apoptosis regulatory proteins has provided considerable insight into the pathways that determine whether a cell will live or die. Many of these advances were recently presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Special Conference on 'Programmed Cell Death Regulation: Basic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities'. This mini-review will discuss the current state of knowledge regarding apoptosis signaling pathways and the function of apoptosis regulatory proteins.