Abstract
The conventional view of CD95 (Fas/APO-1) is that it is a dedicated apoptosis-inducing receptor with important functions in immune cell homeostasis and in viral and tumor defense. There is an emerging recognition, however, that CD95 also has multiple non-apoptotic activities. In the context of cancer, CD95 was shown to have tumor-promoting activities, and the concept of this new function of CD95 in cancer is gaining traction. Recently, we showed that not only is CD95 a growth promoter for cancer cells, but, paradoxically, when either CD95 or CD95 ligand (CD95L) is removed, that virtually all cancer cells die through a process we have named DICE (death induced by CD95R/L elimination). In this perspective, I outline a hypothesis regarding the physiological function of DICE, and why it may be possible to use induction of DICE to treat many, if not most, cancers.
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Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest
No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.