Cell Death Database

RNA Name: RIPK1

Mechanism of Action: Mediates death-receptor signaling; can trigger caspase-8-dependent apoptosis or necroptosis depending on context.

Effect on Cancer: Restoring RIPK1 can trigger apoptosis in TNBC models and suppress progression.

PMID: 33980862

RNA Name: XIAP

Mechanism of Action: X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) binds and inhibits active caspases-3, -7, and -9, blocking apoptosis; also has E3 ligase activity that promotes survival signaling.

Effect on Cancer: Higher XIAP expression in invasive breast cancer is associated with shorter survival and chemotherapy resistance.

PMID: 34199946

RNA Name: DFFB

Mechanism of Action: Caspase-activated DNase (CAD/DFF40) executes internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation downstream of caspase-3.

Effect on Cancer: DFF40-iRGD chimeric protein induces apoptosis and cytotoxicity in TNBC cells and reduces tumor growth in models.

PMID: 34482510

RNA Name: AIFM2

Mechanism of Action: AIFM2 (FSP1) is a mitochondrial oxidoreductase that can induce caspase-independent apoptosis and also functions in ferroptosis suppression via CoQ regeneration; implicated in oncogenic ceRNA axes affecting cell survival.

Effect on Cancer: AIFM2 upregulation linked to tumor progression in breast cancer (reported in HER2+ contexts).

PMID: 34668628

RNA Name: PLSCR1

Mechanism of Action: Phospholipid scramblase 1; nuclear PLSCR1 modulates STAT signaling and survival pathways.

Effect on Cancer: potentially involved in T cell signaling under regulation of B7 family proteins, a be a potential target for breast cancer immunotherapy.

PMID: 27622076

RNA Name: DFFA

Mechanism of Action: ICAD (DFFA) is cleaved by caspase-3 to release DFFB/CAD, enabling DNA fragmentation during apoptosis.

Effect on Cancer: Thymoquinone treatment upregulated DFFA mRNA in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells, correlating with apoptosis induction.

PMID: 35631261

RNA Name: GPER1

Mechanism of Action: G-protein coupled estrogen receptor; loss/activation can trigger JNK/p53/Noxa-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis.

Effect on Cancer: High GPER1 correlates with poor prognosis in TNBC; modulation affects apoptosis.

PMID: 36042244

RNA Name: CSNK2A1

Mechanism of Action: Casein kinase II alpha (CK2?) phosphorylates targets to promote survival signaling and suppress apoptosis.

Effect on Cancer: Overexpressed in breast cancer (including TNBC); CK2 inhibition induces apoptosis.

PMID: 36114992

RNA Name: CASP9

Mechanism of Action: Initiator caspase of the intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptosis pathway activated by Apaf-1 in the apoptosome; activates executioner caspases like caspase-3.

Effect on Cancer: CASP9 expression associates with prognosis in breast cancer; restoration of caspase-9 can suppress metastatic behavior in TNBC models in recent studies.

PMID: 36199443

RNA Name: PDCD10

Mechanism of Action: Scaffolding component (CCM3); can promote apoptosis through stress kinases in some contexts.

Effect on Cancer: Loss increases chemoresistance in breast cancer, suggesting a role in apoptosis and therapy response.

PMID: 30408026