Regulators of apoptosis as anticancer targets.

For the majority of patients with advance malignancies, current therapies are noncurative. Developing therapeutic agents that enhance the apoptotic effects and hence antitumor potential of currently available chemotherapy agents represents a rationale investigative strategy. Several chemotherapeutic agents including antimicrotubule agents and all-trans-retinoic acid utilize these pathways to mediate tumor cell killing. With specific agents such as oblimersan sodium in randomized "pivotal" studies, and agents targeting the TRAIL receptor-family recently entering early clinical study, cautious optimism is warranted.