The interaction between cell death and cell proliferation determines the growth dynamics of all tissues. Studies are described here which relate the changes in proliferation and apoptosis that occur in human breast cancer during medical therapeutic manoeuvres. Xenograft studies strongly support the involvement of increased apoptosis as well as decreased proliferation after oestrogen withdrawal, and limited studies in clinical samples confirm the involvement of both processes. Cytotoxic chemotherapy induces increases in apoptosis within 24 h of starting treatment. However, after 3 months therapy the residual cell population shows apoptotic and proliferation indices much below pretreatment levels. Further molecular studies of this "dormant" population are important to characterise the mechanism of their resistance to drug therapy. The early changes in proliferation and apoptosis may provide useful intermediate response indices.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. M. Trauernicht, S. J. Kim, N. H. Kim, and T. G. Boyer Modulation of Estrogen Receptor {alpha} Protein Level and Survival Function by DBC-1 Mol. Endocrinol., July 1, 2007; 21(7): 1526 - 1536. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Lewis, K. Meeke, C. Osipo, E. A. Ross, N. Kidawi, T. Li, E. Bell, N. S. Chandel, and V. C. Jordan Intrinsic Mechanism of Estradiol-Induced Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells Resistant to Estrogen Deprivation J Natl Cancer Inst, December 7, 2005; 97(23): 1746 - 1759. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J. Epstein Maintenance Therapy to Suppress Micrometastasis: The New Challenge for Adjuvant Cancer Treatment Clin. Cancer Res., August 1, 2005; 11(15): 5337 - 5341. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P J van Diest, E van der Wall, and J P A Baak Prognostic value of proliferation in invasive breast cancer: a review J. Clin. Pathol., July 1, 2004; 57(7): 675 - 681. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Stearns, B. Singh, T. Tsangaris, J. G. Crawford, A. Novielli, M. J. Ellis, C. Isaacs, M. Pennanen, C. Tibery, A. Farhad, et al. A Prospective Randomized Pilot Study to Evaluate Predictors of Response in Serial Core Biopsies to Single Agent Neoadjuvant Doxorubicin or Paclitaxel for Patients with Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Clin. Cancer Res., January 1, 2003; 9(1): 124 - 133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. S. Jones, E. Parrott, and I. N. H. White Activation of Transcription by Estrogen Receptor alpha and beta Is Cell Type- and Promoter-dependent J. Biol. Chem., November 5, 1999; 274(45): 32008 - 32014. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]