Apoptose als prognostisch en therapeutisch aangrijpingspunt in de geneeskunde

- Apoptosis, physiological cell death, has a major role in the pathogenesis of many diseases, notably malignancies, degenerative conditions and diseases of aging.

- Present knowledge about the mechanisms of apoptosis facilitates development of biologically targeted drugs directed at specific aberrations in the diseased tissues. Clinical medicine is to test the therapeutic potential of these substance.

- Drugs currently under development are targeted at regulators of apoptosis, signal transduction, growth factors and growth factor receptors. This involves gene therapy and the application of antisense DNA fragments.

- Recent results in biologically anticancer therapy are promising and leave space for more intensive tumour eradication by combining with traditional cytotoxic therapy.

- It is to be expected that the years to come will see the development of a biological approach to the treatment of degenerative diseases by inhibition of apoptosis.