Resisting Cell Death

Disruption of apoptotic signaling associated with processes leading to cell death allows tumor cells to avoid cell death. The consequence is uncontrolled proliferation leading to tumor cell survival, resistance to treatment, and tumor recurrence. This resistance represents a complex phenomenon that is based on the interactions of different molecules and signaling pathways. Key factors in tumor cell resistance to apoptosis are Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 proteins, autophagy processes, necrosis and necroptosis, heat shock protein-mediated signaling, protease pathways, epigenetic mechanisms, and aberrant nuclear export signaling (Feitelson et al. 2015). The nervous system exhibits a modulatory influence on several of these factors.