Morphological and molecular features of apoptosis and its role in colorectal cancer prevention

Apoptosis is a form of cell suicide that is essential for the control of cell growth in multicellular organisms. Apoptosis has a very important biological significance in mammals, both during embryonic life and adulthood. Defects in the apoptosis machinery cause several human diseases, including cancer. The induction of apoptosis is now recognized as a major strategy for the treatment and prevention of cancer. Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death, with the highest prevalence in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Aim of the present article is to review the mechanism and biological significance of apoptosis and highlight the efficacy of natural agents that target apoptosis in colo-rectal cancer prevention.