Apoptosis and antiangiogonesis. Treatment principles of gynecologic oncology [Apoptose und antiangiogenese. Therapieprinzipien der gynäkologischen onkologie]

Although surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy -known as the three classic columns of cancer therapy - still play a major role in the management of cancer, a fourth type of treatment has evolved, which is effective by targeting specific molecules of malignant cells and, thus, activating or inhibiting specific pathways. The current knowledge about programmed cell death (apoptosis) and development of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) has led to promising approaches to combat cancer. This article summarizes basic mechanisms and crucial pathways of apoptosis and angiogenesis and refers to their clinical significance in treating gynecological malignancies and breast cancer, respectively.