eng Science and Education Publishing Journal of Cancer Research and Treatment 2374-2003 2016-09-05 4 4 69 72 10.12691/jcrt-4-4-3 JCRT2016443 article Ahmed M. Kabel drakabel@gmail.com 1 2 Almokhtar A. Adwas 3 Abeer A. Elkhoely 4 Mohamed Nabih Abdel-Rahman 4 Amany A. Eissa 4 Pharmacology department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Egypt Pharmacology department, Faculty of Medicine, Zawia University, Lybia Pharmacology and toxicology department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Egypt Apoptosis or programmed cell death is characterized by certain morphological and biochemical characteristics. It is a vital process for normal cell turnover, proper development and functioning of the immune system, embryonic development and chemical-induced cell death. Disturbances of apoptosis play a key role in many diseases including neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders and many types of cancer. The field of apoptosis research has been moving forward at a rapid rate. Although many of the key proteins that play a role in apoptosis have been identified, the molecular mechanisms of action of these proteins had not been fully elucidated. The aim of this mini-review is to provide a general overview on the process of apoptosis including pathways, regulation, the role of apoptosis in health and disease as well as the role of p53, Bcl-2 and sphingosine kinase-1 in apoptosis. http://pubs.sciepub.com/jcrt/4/4/3/jcrt-4-4-3.pdf apoptosis programmed cell death cancer p53 Bcl-2 sphingosine kinase-1