Cell Death: Mechanisms and Pathways in Cancer Cells

Abstract

Programmed cell death is an essential physiological and biological process for the proper development and functioning of the organism. Apoptosis is the term that describes the most frequent form of programmed cell death and derives from the morphological characteristics of this type of death caused by cellular suicide. Apoptosis is highly regulated to maintain homeostasis in the body, since its imbalances by increasing and decreasing lead to different types of diseases. In this review, we aim to describe the mechanisms of cell death and the pathways through apoptosis is initiated, transmitted, regulated, and executed.