Mechanisms involved in chemotherapy-induced apoptosis and their implications in cancer chemotherapy.

The mechanisms by which chemotherapeutic agents kill neoplastic cells have been controversial. Recently, however, accumulated evidence has suggested that these agents exert their cytotoxic effects mainly by inducing apoptosis in tumor cells. This article reviews the findings of recent studies on the mechanisms by which chemotherapeutic agents induce apoptosis and their implications in cancer chemotherapy.