140 (PB020) - Inhibition of Fas Receptor Endocytosis Sensitizes Cancer Cells to Fas-induced Apoptosis

Abstract

Fas (CD95/APO-1) is a transmembrane death receptor that transduces apoptotic signals upon binding to its ligand and assembling into a death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). Intracellular trafficking of Fas receptors, including recycling from endosomes to the plasma membrane, plays a vital role in ligand-induced assembly of DISC. Although Fas is highly expressed in tumor cells, insufficient expression of these receptors on the cell surface makes cancer cells insensitive to the Fas-induced apoptosis.