Not dead yet: cell death and survival in cancer and normal physiology

Abstract

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For decades, we have assumed that all regulated cell death pathways have a dedicated “point of no return” that precedes death but after which cells are committed to die. The realization that this is often not the case represents what can be considered a paradigm shift in the field. Here we consider how cells can survive despite engagement of a cell death pathway and the consequences of a “near death experience” in cancer cells and possibly other physiological conditions.

Keywords

• apoptosis
• necroptosis
• pyroptosis
• ferroptosis
• integrated stress response (ISR)
• ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport)