Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29858742›Full record

ReviewCancer metastasis reviews2018

Novel roles of apoptotic caspases in tumor repopulation, epigenetic reprogramming, carcinogenesis, and beyond.

Ruya Zhao, Rayan Kaakati, Andrew K Lee, Xinjian Liu, Fang Li, Chuan-Yuan Li

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cancer metastasis reviews, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
36citing papers in PubMed
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

36 citing papers in PubMed, 63 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
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  7. Programmed cell death in triple-negative breast cancer.Cellular & molecular biology letters · 2025
    Review
  8. Article
  9. Article
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  13. Review
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  18. Apoptotic proteins with non-apoptotic activity: expression and function in cancer.Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death · 2023
    Review
  19. Review
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Ruya ZhaoDuke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
Rayan KaakatiDuke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
Andrew K LeeDuke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA.
Xinjian LiuDepartment of Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3135, Med Ctr, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
Fang LiDepartment of Dermatology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3135, Med Ctr, Durham, NC, 27710, USA.
Chuan-Yuan LiDuke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA. Chuan.li@duke.edu.
Duke University Hospital · USDuke University · US

Funding

Women's Cancer Research ProgramP30CA014236 · NCI · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI DONNA NIEDZWIECKI · 1985 to 2026
$174.8M
Targeting apoptotic caspases to enhance cancer radiotherapyR01CA216876 · NCI · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI LI, FANG · 2018 to 2022
$2.3M
Necroptotic genes in cancer cellular response to radiationR01CA208852 · NCI · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI LI, FANG · 2017 to 2021
$2.2M
Pro-oncogenic roles of apoptotic caspasesR01ES024015 · NIEHS · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI LI, CHUAN-YUAN · 2014 to 2018
$1.8M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA014236NCI NIH HHS R01 CA208852NCI NIH HHS R01 CA216876NIEHS NIH HHS R01 ES024015
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Apoptotic caspases have long been studied for their roles in programmed cell death and tumor suppression. With recent discoveries, however, it is becoming apparent these cell death executioners are involved in additional biological pathways beyond killing cells. In some cases, apoptotic cells secrete growth signals to stimulate proliferation of neighboring cells. This pathway functions to regenerate tissues in multiple organisms, but it also poses problems in tumor resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. Additionally, it was found that activation of caspases does not irreversibly lead to cell death, contrary to the established paradigm. Sub-lethal activation of caspases is evident in cell differentiation and epigenetic reprogramming. Furthermore, evidence indicates spontaneous, unprovoked activation of caspases in many cancer cells, which plays pivotal roles in maintaining their tumorigenicity and metastasis. These unexpected findings challenge current cancer therapy approaches aimed at activation of the apoptotic pathway. At the same time, the newly discovered functions of caspases suggest new treatment approaches for cancer and other pathological conditions in the future.

Indexed as

ApoptosisCellular ReprogrammingEpigenesis, GeneticAnimalsCaspasesCell DifferentiationCell ProliferationCell Transformation, NeoplasticEnzyme ActivationHumansNeoplasm GradingNeoplasm MetastasisNeoplasmsNeoplasm StagingCaspasesApoptotic caspasesCancer stem cellsCarcinogenesisEpigenetic reprogrammingNon-canonical rolesSub-lethal caspase activation

Identifiers

PMID29858742
PMCPMC6204284
OpenAlexW2807690322

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.