APOPTOSIS AND CELL PROLIFERATION: THEIR ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ONCOLOGICAL DISEASES

Abstract

Apoptosis and cell proliferation are fundamental biological processes that maintain tissue homeostasis in multicellular organisms. The balance between programmed cell death and controlled cell division ensures normal growth, development, and regeneration of tissues. Disruption of this balance plays a central role in the initiation and progression of oncological diseases. Reduced apoptosis or excessive proliferation leads to uncontrolled cell growth, genomic instability, tumor formation, and metastasis. Modern molecular biology has revealed key regulatory pathways involved in apoptosis, including the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway, extrinsic death receptor pathway, and the role of caspases, Bcl-2 family proteins, and p53 tumor suppressor gene. Similarly, dysregulation of the cell cycle through cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), and oncogenes contributes to malignant transformation.This article analyzes the molecular and cellular mechanisms of apoptosis and proliferation, their interaction in cancer pathogenesis, and the clinical significance of targeting these pathways in oncology. Understanding these mechanisms provides a scientific basis for the development of targeted therapies and personalized medicine in cancer treatment.