Can Insufficient Apoptosis be Targeted Therapeutically?

Given its role in various diseases, targeting insufficient apoptosis has become a therapeutic strategy. In cancer, drugs that mimic pro-apoptotic signals or inhibit anti-apoptotic proteins are being developed. For instance, BH3 mimetics are a class of drugs that antagonize Bcl-2-like proteins, promoting apoptosis in cancer cells. In autoimmune diseases, therapies aim to restore the normal apoptotic clearance of autoreactive immune cells. However, the challenge remains to selectively modulate apoptosis without affecting normal cell turnover.