Apoptosis in hematological disorders

Apoptosis, the cell's intrinsic death program, plays a critical role in the regulation of tissue homeostasis, especially in cell systems with a high turnover rate such as hematopoietic cells. Imbalances between proliferation and cell death may result in premature death, uncontrolled polyclonal or monoclonal expansion or tumor formation. Also, cytotoxic therapy and immunotherapy of leukemia and lymphoma predominantly mediates cell death through induction of apoptosis. Understanding the molecular events by which tumor cells evade apoptotic deletion and which induce apoptosis by cytotoxic therapies, have provided a paradigm to link normal growth control, malignant transformation and response to therapy. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.