Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Vol 3, No 1 (2011)

Understanding the Role of the Death Receptor 5/FADD/caspase-8 Death Signaling in Cancer Metastasis

Abstract

The normal function of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway is to mediate apoptosis. Thus, this pathway is generally recognized to be critical in host immune surveillance against cancer. However, many studies have suggested that some key components in this pathway including Fas, death receptor 5 (DR5), Fas-associated death domain (FADD) and caspase-8 may contribute to cancer growth or metastasis. Our recent study on DR5 and caspase-8 expression in human head and neck cancer tissues indicate that high caspase-8 either alone or along with high DR5 in tumor tissue from patients with lymph node metastasis is significantly associated with poor disease-free survival and overall survival, suggesting that these proteins may be involved in positive regulation of cancer metastasis. Thus, efforts should be made to better understand the role of the death receptor 5/FADD/caspase-8 death signaling in regulation of cancer metastasis.

Keywords: caspase-8; death receptor 5 (DR5); Fas-associated death domain (FADD); Fas; cancer metastasis; lymph node metastasis

Full Text: PDF (HHS Public Access Author Manuscript, originally deposited in PubMed Central, PMCID: PMC3066014)

This PDF is an author manuscript made publicly available through the NIH Public Access Policy and originally deposited in PubMed Central. All rights remain with the copyright holder.