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EMBO reports 3, 5, 420–425 (2002)
doi:10.1093/embo-reports/kvf094
ROS, stress-activated kinases and stress signaling in cancer
Moran Benhar, David Engelberg & Alexander Levitzki
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Department of Biological Chemistry, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
To whom correspondence should be addressed
Alexander Levitzki Tel: +972 2 6585404; Fax: +972 2 6512958; levitzki@vms.huji.ac.il
Received 16 November 2001; Accepted 1 March 2002.
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Abstract
Anticancer therapy is frequently efficient in early stages of the disease, whereas advanced tumors are usually resistant to the same treatments. The molecular basis for this change is not entirely understood. Many anticancer agents are DNA- or cytoskeleton-damaging drugs that show some specificity towards dividing cells. However, recent studies show that these agents also activate stress-signaling cascades that may play a role in eliciting the observed therapeutic effects. We discuss recent findings that suggest that induction of stress signaling in oncogenically transformed cells is integrated into apoptotic pathways. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and stress-activated protein kinases (SAPKs), which are potentiated in recently transformed cells, emerge as key effectors of cell death. In advanced tumors, however, these agents are downregulated and, consequently, death signaling is suppressed. Such changes in ROS and SAPK activity levels during the course of tumor development may underlie the changes in responsiveness to anticancer therapy.
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