Cell Death Database

RNA Name: SIRT2

Mechanism of Action: NAD+-dependent deacetylase; modulates apoptosis via deacetylation of targets and ROS responses.

Effect on Cancer: Often amplified/overexpressed in TNBC and promotes survival; SIRT2 loss sensitizes cells to ROS-induced apoptosis.

PMID: 27503926

RNA Name: HRK

Mechanism of Action: BH3-only pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member; binds Bcl-2/Bcl-xL to release Bax/Bak and promote mitochondrial apoptosis.

Effect on Cancer:

PMID: 30774992

RNA Name: AIFM3

Mechanism of Action: Mitochondrial oxidoreductase similar to AIF; upon release can mediate caspase-independent apoptosis via chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation.

Effect on Cancer: Overexpression in breast cancer linked to metastasis and poor prognosis.

PMID: 31088422

RNA Name: AKT1

Mechanism of Action: AKT1 (PKB?) is a serine/threonine kinase that promotes cell survival by phosphorylating/inactivating pro-apoptotic factors (BAD, FOXO), inhibiting caspase activation and promoting MDM2-mediated p53 degradation; isoform-specific effects exist in breast cancer.

Effect on Cancer: AKT1 activation impairs apoptosis and promotes tumor initiation in breast cancer; isoform-specific roles affect therapy response in TNBC.

PMID: 31752925

RNA Name: CASP3

Mechanism of Action: Executioner caspase that cleaves multiple substrates to execute apoptosis following activation by initiator caspases.

Effect on Cancer: Cleaved (active) caspase-3 in TNBC correlates with chemotherapy response and can be a marker of apoptosis.

PMID: 31949833

RNA Name: TP53

Mechanism of Action: TP53 encodes p53, a transcription factor that activates pro-apoptotic genes (BAX, PUMA/BBC3, NOXA) in response to DNA damage and stress, inducing mitochondrial apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest.

Effect on Cancer: TP53 is frequently mutated in breast cancer, especially TNBC; mutant p53 alters apoptosis and is associated with therapy response and prognosis.

PMID: 32061310

RNA Name: DLC1

Mechanism of Action: Tumor-suppressor RhoGAP activity; restoration of DLC1 expression reduces pro-survival signaling and promotes apoptosis.

Effect on Cancer: Curcumin restored DLC1 expression and promoted apoptosis in TNBC cell lines and xenografts.

PMID: 32725802

RNA Name: BIRC2

Mechanism of Action: Encodes cIAP1 which ubiquitinates caspases and inhibits apoptosis.

Effect on Cancer: Overexpressed in TNBC and promotes chemoresistance.

PMID: 33673050

RNA Name: BIRC3

Mechanism of Action: Encodes cIAP2; inhibits caspases and activates NF-?B pro-survival signaling.

Effect on Cancer: Overexpressed in TNBC contributing to apoptosis resistance.

PMID: 33673050

RNA Name: TRPC5

Mechanism of Action: Calcium channel; increased Ca2+ influx activates survival pathways and drug-resistance mechanisms.

Effect on Cancer: promotes drug resistance in breast carcinoma via CaMKK?/AMPK?/mTOR pathway

PMID: 33426511