The current knowledge on molecular mechanisms of apoptosis is presented focusing on the key elements of the extrinsic death receptor pathway as well as the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. Disregulation of apoptotic pathways is considered as a key factor in the survival of cancer cells in response to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation therapy. Substances that selectively reactivate apoptosis in malignant cells are the promising candidate anticancer drugs, which have now entered various phases of clinical trials. The up-to-date techniques allowing for non-invasive in vivo visualization of apoptotic cells with special reference to therapy-induced cell death are briefly surveyed.
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Keywords: apoptosis, targeted therapy, cancer patients, clinical trials, single photon emission computed tomography, positron emission tomography, extracellular markers of apoptosis
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