TRAIL targets cell cycle arrested tumor cells

Introduction: Cell cycle arrested and resting tumor cells represent a major challenge for anti-tumor therapy as they display enhanced resistance against chemotherapy and induce disease relapse. Materials and Methods: Cell cycle arrest was induced by cytotoxic drugs, irradiation or knockdown of specific cyclins both in tumor cell lines and in cells derived from leukemia patients. Results: Against all expectations, cell cycle arrest sensitized hematopoietic and solid tumor cell lines for apoptosis induction by the death inducing ligand TRAIL. Knockdown of different cyclins induced cell cycle arrest in G1 or G2 and…