Cell Death Database

RNA Name: HTR2A

Mechanism of Action: 5-HT2A receptor; antagonism can induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells.

Effect on Cancer: HTR2A antagonists induce apoptosis in BC cell lines.

PMID: 26768715

RNA Name: FADD

Mechanism of Action: Adaptor protein that bridges activated death receptors to procaspase-8 at the DISC, promoting extrinsic apoptosis.

Effect on Cancer: Required for TNF?/TRAIL-induced extrinsic apoptosis in TNBC cells; modulates sensitivity to death ligands.

PMID: 26733177

RNA Name: DICER1

Mechanism of Action: Processes miRNAs; loss alters apoptotic miRNA expression leading to reduced apoptosis.

Effect on Cancer: Lower Dicer expression in TNBC than ER+ breast cancers, implying reduced miRNA-mediated apoptotic control.

PMID: 27260947

RNA Name: PAK2

Mechanism of Action: PAK2 phosphorylates caspase-7 (Ser-30/Thr-173/Ser-239) and blocks caspase-7 activation, thereby inhibiting executioner caspase activity (anti-apoptotic effect).

Effect on Cancer: PAK2 upregulation correlates with poorer outcomes and chemoresistance in breast cancer/TNBC and contributes to suppression of apoptosis.

PMID: 39803692

RNA Name: FAP

Mechanism of Action: Fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) expressed in tumor stroma promotes tumor-supportive signaling (PI3K/AKT) and can protect tumor cells from apoptosis; FAP targeting disrupts stromal support and increases tumor cell death.

Effect on Cancer: FAP knockdown reduces tumor growth and increases apoptosis in breast cancer models.

PMID: 24885257

RNA Name: CASP8

Mechanism of Action: Initiator caspase in the extrinsic apoptosis pathway; activated at death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) and activates downstream executioner caspases.

Effect on Cancer: Caspase-8 activation mediates extrinsic apoptosis in TNBC models under ER stress and DR5 activation.

PMID: 29374147

RNA Name: TP53BP2

Mechanism of Action: ASPP2 (TP53BP2) stimulates p53-mediated transactivation of pro-apoptotic genes; loss reduces p53-driven apoptosis.

Effect on Cancer: Silencing of ASPP2 promotes proliferation and migration and reduces apoptosis in TNBC cells via PI3K/AKT pathway.

PMID: 29568874

RNA Name: TNFRSF1A

Mechanism of Action: TNF receptor 1 mediates TNF? signaling leading to either NF-?B-driven survival or assembly of death-inducing complexes that activate caspase-8 and extrinsic apoptosis.

Effect on Cancer: TNFRSF1A expression links to NF-?B activation in breast cancer and can modulate apoptosis vs survival depending on context.

PMID: 29621649

RNA Name: BCL2

Mechanism of Action: Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein that sequesters pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins and prevents mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP).

Effect on Cancer: Bcl-2 inhibition sensitizes TNBC cells to chemotherapy; Bcl-2 expression patterns are subtype-dependent in breast cancer.

PMID: 29876007

RNA Name: CASP7

Mechanism of Action: Executioner caspase activated downstream of initiator caspases; executes apoptosis by cleaving cellular substrates.

Effect on Cancer: Low cleaved caspase-7 levels associate with unfavorable outcome across breast cancers; caspase-7 activity impacts response to therapy.

PMID: 30069746